The Vancouver Whitecaps put on a dominant display in the first match of their playoff series, bossing FC Dallas in a 3-0 win at BC Place in which the home side didn’t even concede a shot. The win gives Vancouver a chance to advance to the next round with a win in Frisco next week.

A first-half header from Daniel Rios sent the ‘Caps on their way and Thomas Müller and Kenji Cabrera put the match out of reach in the second 45 minutes to cap a brilliant display that will surely purge any remaining frustrations from Decision Day.

Jesper Sørensen didn’t overcomplicate things and went with his best available starting XI. Without Mathias Laborda, Ralph Priso slotted in beside Belal Halbouni as expected. The usual suspects were in midfield (Cubas/Berhalter/Müller), with Emmanuel Sabbi and Ali Ahmed starting on the wings, flanking Rios.

Vancouver tried to ride the energy from the packed crowd, playing direct balls down the wings to try to spring Sabbi and Ahmed and put pressure on Dallas from wide areas. The ‘Caps nearly struck early, with Sabbi and Müller playing a brilliantly worked one-two that left Sabbi 1v1, but the winger was denied by Michael...