BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The Vancouver Whitecaps scored two first-half goals en route to a 3-0 A-League victory over the Battery on Friday night, ending Charleston's five-game win streak.
The Pacific Conference-leading Whitecaps (14-6-1, 65 points) earned the maximum five points in front of 6,188 at Swangard Stadium. Vancouver edged past the Battery for second overall in the league.
Charleston (14-7-1, 64 points) remained second in the Central behind Richmond (14-5-3, 66 points), at Atlanta tonight.
The Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, converting off a corner kick. Darren Tilley flicked on the cross into the box and Alfredo Valenti knocked it home with a full-volley shot that gave Battery keeper Dusty Hudock no chance.
John Sulentic scored the Whitecaps' last two goals.
In the 39th minute, he took a down a long ball on the wing and got off a shot that Hudock parried. But Hudock's block fell kindly for Sulentic and he blasted in the followup.
Early in the second half, Sulentic ran onto another ball over the top and got in alone on Hudock before finding net.
The Battery caps its Pacific Northwest road swing with a match at the Portland (Ore.) Timbers at 5:15 p.m. Sunday. The match will air on WTMZ (910-AM).
