VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Goals from Camilo and Kenny Miller proved the difference as the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 at BC Place Saturday night in front of 20,151 fans.
Camilo opened the scoring in the 60th minute, beating his marker Steven Beitashour to poke home a ball across goal from Nigel Reo-Coker, whose lung-busting run from his own half made the play. The strike marked the Brazilian's 14th goal of the campaign to tie him with Chicago's Mike Magee for the league lead.
Miller doubled Vancouver's lead in the 74th minute, banging home a deftly touched ball into the box from Russell Teibert into the bottom right corner. Reo-Coker had a swing and a miss at Teibert's ball, which fooled a defender, allowing Miller to step into space and score his right-footed effort.
In a sleepy first half in which the Whitecaps held 57.4 percent of the ball, each side only generated one chance of any real danger.
Miller had the first of those opportunities, getting a head to a Camilo free kick seven minutes in, but the Scotsman's effort went just over the bar into the top netting of the frame.
Cordell Cato forced 'Caps goalkeeper David Ousted into his first quality save as a Whitecaps goalkeeper in the 38th minute with a low blast which looked destined for the bottom left corner. Ousted managed to get his right arm out to stop the deflected effort from the top of the box before a defender cleared the danger.
Camilo wiggled his way through a pair of Earthquakes defenders in the 53rd minute, and looked as if he was set to score from a good position inside the box – and he very well might have challenged Quakes 'keeper Jon Busch – had defender Clarence Goodson not thrown his body in the way of the Brazilian's strike.
Reo-Coker saved a chance in the six-yard box in the 55th minute. The Englishman stopped what looked a certain goal, blocking a Chris Wondolowski effort following a header across goal from Goodson on a Shea Salinas free kick.
Salinas had a gilt-edged opportunity of his own with five minutes to go, sneaking in late before controlling a cross in the left side of the six yard area -- but the former Whitecap poked his effort wide and right of target from close range.
Salvadoran international Jaime Alas had a good look in the 88th minute, but his curling left-footed free kick from just outside the area went narrowly over the goal, allowing the Whitecaps to seal the shutout.
Vancouver is back in action next Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as they face the Colorado Rapids. The Earthquakes must wait until next Sunday, when they host Sporting KC at Buck Shaw Stadium.
