Brian White scores twice as Whitecaps thump FC Dallas

VANCOUVER — Brian White notched a brace in his return from injury and the Vancouver Whitecaps thumped FC Dallas 5-0 to climb back atop Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings on Saturday.

The American striker was back in Vancouver's starting lineup after missing three games with a hamstring ailment, and made a quick impact with goals in the 23rd and 37th minutes.

Emmanuel Sabbi opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Edier Ocampo put a header in during first-half injury time, and Bruno Caicedo added another tally for the 'Caps (12-4-4) in the 68th minute.

Dallas (9-6-6) tried to make adjustments to better handle the offensive onslaught in the second half, but struggled to break through Vancouver's defence.

Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka tallied one save to record his 10th clean sheet of the season.

The result put the Whitecaps back into first place after the club was leapfrogged by Houston in a 1-0 loss to the Dynamo on Wednesday. Houston lost 2-1 to St. Louis on Saturday.

Vancouver took control of the game early and opened the scoring off a corner in the 11th minute.

Ryan Gauld swung the ball into the fray and it was headed back out to the top of the area, where Sabbi got a foot on it and sent a rolling shot just inside the far post. His fourth goal across all competition this season gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead.

The Colombian wing back sprinted up the field, losing his check in the process, and took a ball off the chest from Tristan Blackmon. Ocampo then chipped a pass across the six-yard box to White, who booted a shot in to put the home side up 2-0.

White struck again in the 37th minute off another Gauld corner. Midfielder Oliver Larraz headed the ball down and a Dallas defender took it off his foot before it bounced to White, who booted a left-footed shot into the back of the net. It was the striker's 13th goal across all competition this season.

Ocampo sent the Whitecaps into halftime on a high, putting a bouncing header up and over Dallas keeper Jonathan Sirois in the sixth minute of first-half injury time to give Vancouver a 4-0 advantage.

The 'Caps controlled 62.9 per cent of possession across the first half and outshot the visitors 10-3, with a 6-0 advantage in on-target shots.

Dallas head coach Eric Quill made four changes at halftime in a bid to spark his group, but the Torros struggled to maintain possession and create scoring chances.

Caicedo, who'd come on for Sabbi five minutes earlier, headed a cross from midfielder Thomas Muller down, collected the ball and fired a right-footed shot in to put Vancouver up 5-0.