Whitecaps damage D.C. United's playoff chances with win

By JOSE M. ROMERO

On the outside looking in for a playoff spot to begin the night, the climb toward the MLS postseason got a little steeper for D.C. United. 

The Vancouver Whitecaps played spoiler Wednesday night at B.C. Place Stadium, holding on for a 2-1 victory thanks to strong defensive play for 56 minutes, another goal for leading scorer Camilo and the first career MLS goal for forward Long Tan.

DCU was energized by Brandon McDonald's 57th-minute goal that cut the Whitecaps' lead to one, but it lost an opportunity for a PK -- and potentially a tie -- when officials failed to see a handball on the Whitecaps' Jeb Brovsky. It came in the 76th minute when Marc Burch got off a shot on goal that was deflected wide of the goal, and the deflection was the result of the ball striking Brovsky's elbow, TV replays showed.

DCU got another good chance two minutes later with Santino Quaranta's header that went wide -- Quaranta was a second-half sub who played well in a losing cause -- and United never seriously threatened to score thereafter. 

The loss kept DCU at 38 points with three matches to play -- all at RFK Stadium. It plays Chicago, Portland and Sporting KC over the next 11 days, so the playoffs are certainly still within reach, but DCU will need to rely on help from other teams as it is five points away from the current 10th and final berth.

D.C. United hasn't been to the postseason since 2007.

D.C. United was without injured Chris Pontius and Dwayne DeRosario, who'd played for his national team one night earlier, Wednesday night and probably could have used the offensive firepower. Instead it was the Whitecaps, guided by former DCU coach Tom Soehn, setting the tone on offense. 

It took less than a minute for the Whitecaps to score, Camilo netting his 12th goal of the season off a long service from Jordan Harvey, who was playing left midfielder. The pass came down to Camilo for an easy shot between two defenders who were out of position.

Vancouver (6-16-10) scored its second goal in almost identical fashion. Not a minute into the second half,Tan was on the receiving end of a long ball from defender Alain Rochat, and his header found the net to give the Whitecaps a 2-0 lead.

Tan, the first MLS player from China in league history, got a smile and warm embrace from teammate Eric Hassli in the 59th minute as Hassli came on for Tan as a substitute.