OMNISPORT

VANCOUVER – It had the makings of being a ‘banana skin’ of a match. An understrength Real Salt Lake side taking on the same Vancouver Whitecaps FC starting XI that brushed aside Seattle Sounders FC last weekend.

There was also the reminder of a similar encounter back on Sept. 28, 2013, that did not go the Whitecaps way, as a second-string Salt Lake took all three points in downtown Vancouver.

For the pitfalls that Saturday’s game could have had, the Blue and White showed few signs of complacency, as they dispatched RSL 4-0 in front of a delighted crowd of 20,638 at BC Place.

Octavio Rivero’s early penalty - his third straight from the spot this season - set the tone for a convincing home win, with Pa-Modou Kah building on his scoring efforts in Seattle last weekend with a goal just before the break. The second half belonged to Cristian Techera, whose brace made it a satisfying night at the office for Carl Robinson’s side.

“We didn’t play well in the first half, but we got our noses in front from a penalty,” Robinson said. “I said to them at halftime that they need to tidy up a few things. I thought in the second half, we were a lot better. It was a trap game for us, it was difficult. (RSL head coach) Jeff (Cassar) decided to rotate his lineup and leave a couple of his bigger players at home, based upon the (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal) game on Wednesday.

“As a manager, you get criticized if it doesn’t work, or apparently, you get called a genius, if it does work. We took care of business today.”

The result set a couple of MLS milestones for the ‘Caps. They tied a record of 13 wins in a single season as an MLS club, while Techera’s well-taken second goal took Vancouver’s overall goal total in the league to 200.

For the diminutive Uruguayan, claiming a third straight league win was the priority.

“I’m very happy for the result, first and foremost, which is the most important thing,” Techera said through a club translator. “Obviously, I’m happy to contribute on the goal-scoring side as well.”

The victory will keep the Whitecaps at the top of the Western Conference standings this weekend and makes them the second club in MLS to surpass the 40-point mark this season.

“We came out with a great win and kept a clean sheet. That is what I’m most happy about,” said goal scorer Kah. “Right now, we have to keep on doing it. As long as we keep finishing our chances, we know we can win games.”

Vancouver’s busy August rolls along, with Robinson’s side now turning its attention to a trip to Quebec and the first leg of the Canadian Championship final versus the Montreal Impact.

While changes should be expected to the Whitecaps lineup, center back Kendall Waston looks set to start at Stade Saputo on Wednesday night after his booking versus Salt Lake rules the Costa Rican international out of next weekend’s league game at Sporting Kansas City.

“He’ll play on Wednesday because he can’t play Saturday,” Robinson said.