FC DALLAS 2 VANCOUVER 0
Fabian Castillo and second-half substitute Jonathan Top scored five minutes apart to give FC Dallas a 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS action Wednesday.
Dallas, which entered the game as the obvious underdog, improved to 7-11-8 while winning for the fourth time in the past seven games. The Whitecaps (10-8-7) suffered only their second loss at home.
Both Dallas goals came in the second half of a game which generated more yellow cards - nine - than scoring chances.
Vancouver received six yellows, while Dallas took three.
Missing four regulars, Vancouver appeared out of sync much of the night, and coach Martin Rennie's liberal second-half substituting did not have the desired effect.
The Whitecaps clearly missed attackers Darren Mattocks and Dane Richards, who were away on international duty with Jamaica. Meanwhile, captain Jay DeMerit sat out with a concussion and midfielder Gershon Koffie served a one-game suspension for taking his fifth yellow card of the season Saturday against Real Salt Lake.
As a result, the Whitecaps had a new look up front as Scottish striker Kenny Miller made his first start at home and Atiba Harris started for the first time since April 28. He has battled knee problems that have sidelined him for most of the past two seasons and forced him to undergo three surgical procedures.
Neither team mounted much pressure in the first half. The most drama occurred in the 45th minute as Vancouver's Camilo put a curling free kick off the crossbar from the corner of the 18-yard box after Dallas was called for a hand-ball infraction.
Moments later, Camilo received a yellow card for taking down Andrew Jacobson.
