VANCOUVER — Octavio Rivero and Cristian Techera scored 4 minutes apart in the second half as the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Wednesday to take the sole lead in Major League Soccer.
Rivero scored in the 73rd minute, heading home his 10th goal of the season when he headed home a lofted Techera pass. Rivero tore off his jersey in celebration — a reaction that earned him a yellow card — before being mobbed by teammates.
Techera fired a shot past a helpless Clint Irwin in the 77th.
With the win, Vancouver is now two points ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS standings.
In Wednesday's other game, Sporting Kansas City drew the Portland Timbers 0-0 after Sporting goalkeeper Tim Melia managed to fend off a flurry of shots.
Sporting and Portland are locked in a battle for playoff position, knotted in a three-way tie for fourth in the Western Conference with Seattle with on 41 points each. Portland extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.