Tristan Blackmon headed home the match’s lone goal early into the second half and that was more than enough for the Vancouver Whitecaps to defeat offense-challenged FC Dallas 1-0 on Saturday in a Western Conference match in Frisco, Texas.
The Whitecaps (4-0-0, 12 points) have begun the MLS season with four consecutive wins for the first time in team history. Vancouver has outscored its league opponents 9-2 this season.
It was the second straight clean sheet for Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, who wasn’t even required to make a save to earn the shutout as FC Dallas (1-2-1, 4 points) did not manage to get a shot on goal in the contest.
Blackmon outjumped Dallas defender Marco Farfan in the 54th minute and directed the header down to the left of Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes and into the net for a 1-0 lead. It was Blackmon’s sixth career goal and first since 2023.
The Whitecaps ruled the first half, possessing the ball for an amazing 61.7 percent and producing three shots on goal over the three-minute stretch that forced Paes into three tough saves.
First, Pedro Vite tested Paes with a left-footed shot from just outside the box in the 29th minute. A minute later, Brian White ripped a shot from the center of the box off a corner kick that Paes batted away; Sebastian Burhalter then pounced on the rebound and got off a left-footed attempt from Paes’ right that the Dallas keeper batted across the end line.
Vancouver ended the half with a 7-4 advantage in shots that included all three of the half’s shots on target.
White had a point-blank chance to score in the 54th minute but Paes forced him to the short side of the goal and was able to deflect the shot away. That chance ultimately provided the Whitecaps the set piece they needed.
The Whitecaps finally broke through in the 54th minute, the goal coming off yet another corner kick. Vite started the play with a short corner pass to Jean Claude Ngando, who steadied the ball before lifting it to the back post and onto the head of Blackmon.
–Field Level Media
