A day after a trio of MLS clubs failed to pick up a win, Vancouver FC broke through on Wednesday, scoring four times in the second half to defeat visiting Real Espana 5-0 in their opening match of the CONCACAF Champions League.
On the first day of the tournament on Tuesday, Austin FC, Philadelphia and Orlando City went a combined 0-1-2. After scoring once in the first half, the Whitecaps overwhelmed Real Espana in the second half to make sure early that MLS would pick up a win in the round of 16.
Tristan Blackmon opened the scoring in the 21st minute, which was enough on its own for a club that outshot its opponent 27-10 and 11-2 in shots on goal.
But Vancouver, which has played twice and has yet to pick up a point this MLS season, erupted with four goals in fewer than 20 minutes. Ryan Raposo scored in the 59th minute, Real Espana’s Devron Garcia scored an own goal in 64th minute, Pedro Vite scored in the 70th and Brian White rounded out the scoring in the 78th minute.
The five goals are the most scored by any team through six games of the tournament thus far.
The two teams will play the second leg of their matchup next Wednesday in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
–Field Level Media
