Republished April 09, 2016 - 7:42 PM
Original Publication Date April 09, 2016 - 5:40 PM
WASHINGTON - Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson wasn't making excuses for his team after being shut out on Saturday.
Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio each scored twice to help D.C. United beat Vancouver 4-0 and snap a six-game winless streak dating to last season.
It was the Whitecaps' worst defeat since a 4-0 road loss to United in 2011.
"We were second best throughout the game," said Robinson. "I think D.C. United — credit to them — they outforced us in every department: midfield areas, defensive areas, attacking areas. They outshot us, but we outpossed them, but that means nothing possession.
"So credit to them. They got what they deserved and we got what we deserved."
Espindola opened the scoring with a putback of Chris Rolfe's saved shot in the 38th minute.
Steve Birnbaum's header of Taylor Kemp's corner kick bounced off the bar and Espindola put it away from close range to make it 2-0 about nine minutes into the second half.
Saborio replaced Espindola in the 79th and added two goals, both on feeds from Luciano Acosta, for D.C. United (1-2-3).
Vancouver (2-3-1), which had a three-game unbeaten streak snapped, was outshot 24-7, including 13-1 in shots on target.
David Ousted had a career-high nine saves for the Whitecaps. He now has 25 saves this season, most in the MLS.
The Whitecaps were without key players Matias Laba (suspension), Pedro Morales (left hip flexor strain), and Octavio Rivero (right hip flexor strain).
— With files from The Canadian Press
News from © The Associated Press, 2016