SOCCER: Whitecaps extend hot start to season, blank NYCFC

Mathias Laborda and Brian White each netted goals Saturday night to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-0 victory over visiting New York City FC.

Vancouver (6-1-0, 18 points) outshot the visitors 23-12, including a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Yohei Takaoka made a pair of saves for the Whitecaps, who won their second straight after a 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on March 21. White, who scored his team-leading sixth goal, had seven shots on target.

New York City FC (3-2-2, 11 points) saw their winless streak extended to three. Goalkeeper Matt Freese made eight saves for NYCFC, who held possession for 53% of the match.

Looking to add to its one-goal lead, Vancouver put three shots on goal in the first five minutes of the second half, but Freese saved all three.

New York City had its chances to pull even with 30 minutes left in regulation, but Aiden O'Neill had two shots blocked and Edier Ocampo stopped Hannes Wolf's attempt - all within a minute.

Vancouver pushed the margin to 2-0 in the 87th minute, as White's header - assisted by rookie Bruno Caicedo - sealed the shutout win.

White had three shots on goal saved by Freese in the first half, before the Whitecaps struck first in the 45th minute. On a free kick, Sebastian Berhalter found a streaking Laborda, who fired in his second goal of the season in the box past a diving Freese.

Vancouver had 14 first-half shots (four on target) to just three from NYCFC.

-Field Level Media/Reuters