VANCOUVER — FC Dallas clinched their spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs after a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night, surviving intense pressure from the 10-man hosts at BC Place.
Kaick scored the winning goal in the 47th minute, while goalkeeper Michael Collodi made six crucial saves to secure the win for Dallas, who moved into seventh place in the Western Conference. “We knew we had to fight for it, and the guys delivered,” said Dallas coach Nico Estévez.
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The match took a dramatic turn in the 11th minute when Vancouver’s Mathias Laborda received a red card after a VAR review for tripping Sam Sarver on a breakaway, leaving the Whitecaps a man down for nearly the entire match.
Dallas capitalized in the 18th minute when Osaze Urhoghide headed in a corner to make it 1-0. Vancouver equalized in the 28th through Thomas Mueller’s penalty kick, after Lalas Abubakar fouled Emmanuel Sabbi inside the box.
Early in the second half, Kaick put Dallas back in front with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. Vancouver nearly tied it late, but Collodi’s reflex save on Jeevan Badwal’s close-range effort in the 76th minute preserved the win.
The result means Dallas (11-12-11, 44 points) leapfrogs Portland for the final playoff spot, while Vancouver (18-7-9, 63 points) finish second in the West, setting up a first-round playoff rematch between the two sides.