It was a result even the Vancouver Whitecaps hadn香蕉视频直播檛 dared to dream of.

With their season on the line, the 香蕉视频直播楥aps posted an emphatic 5-0 victory over the Portland Timbers in a wild-card matchup Wednesday 香蕉视频直播� and earned a spot in Major League Soccer香蕉视频直播檚 playoffs in the process.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we were all confident of coming here and being able to win, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 think many of us were expecting a result like that,香蕉视频直播� said captain Ryan Gauld. 香蕉视频直播淛ust a really good performance overall and good to get the five goals.香蕉视频直播�

Vancouver will now face the Western Conference香蕉视频直播檚 top seed Los Angeles FC in a best-of-three first-round series starting Sunday.

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps came into Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 game sitting in eighth place after going winless in their last seven MLS matches and with losses in four straight.

The win proved the club is better than their recent form, said Gauld, who led Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 explosive attack with three goals and an assist.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been off a bit for the past few weeks, but (this performance) shows that when we piece it together and play to the level that we can, we香蕉视频直播檙e a really good side,香蕉视频直播� said the Scottish attacking midfielder.

Brian White and Stuart Armstrong also scored and 香蕉视频直播榢eeper Yohei Takaoka made four saves for the first post-season shutout of his career.

Portland香蕉视频直播檚 head coach Phil Neville opted to start netminder James Pantemis over his usual No. 1, Maxime Crepeau. Pantemis stopped three on-target shots.

The game was played at the ninth-place Timbers香蕉视频直播� home stadium despite the Whitecaps finishing the regular season higher in the standings. Vancouver ceded home-field advantage due to a scheduling conflict at B.C. Place.

A hostile crowd didn香蕉视频直播檛 stop the 香蕉视频直播楥aps from pressuring early on Wednesday.

Gauld opened the scoring in the 20th minute, moments after Armstrong swung a ball into the penalty area off a corner.

Vancouver striker Fafa Picault got a shot off and Pantemis punched it away, but Portland failed to clear. The ball bobbled around until it reached Gauld香蕉视频直播檚 foot and the attacking midfielder fired off a right-footed shot, pinging it in off Timbers defender Claudio Bravo on the goal line.

香蕉视频直播淲hen Ryan Gauld leads the team like he does today, everything becomes easier for everyone else,香蕉视频直播� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

香蕉视频直播淭he performance that he put on today? It香蕉视频直播檚 massive. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know in the history of the Whitecaps if there香蕉视频直播檚 a performance better than this. 香蕉视频直播� What he did today is astonishing.香蕉视频直播�

The 香蕉视频直播楥aps struck again in the 24th minute when defender Mattias Laborda chipped a pass across the top of the six-yard box to White. The American striker deftly picked it up and blasted a shot in past Pantemis to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Vancouver took a three-goal lead into the locker room after Armstrong dished off to Gauld at the right side of the box and the Scotsman unleashed an arching shot that sailed in over the Portland 香蕉视频直播榢eeper in the 31st minute.

The offensive onslaught continued early in the second half.

The 51st minute saw Picault float a ball into the penalty area for Armstrong, who dived for a header, putting the ball just inside the post to give the 香蕉视频直播楥aps a 4-0 lead.

The Scottish midfielder blew a kiss to the crowd as he ran to celebrate with his teammates.

The Whitecaps香蕉视频直播� other Scot struck again in the 59th minute.

Armstrong tapped a pass to Gauld, who took a couple of steps and blasted yet another shot into the Portland net to complete his hat trick. He then held a finger to his lips to quiet the crowd.

While Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 attack was impressive, a big part of Wednesday香蕉视频直播檚 win came from holding the Timbers香蕉视频直播� offence in check, Gauld said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e had one of the best goal-scoring records in the whole league,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd to keep them mostly quiet for the 90 minutes is a big thing we can take from it.香蕉视频直播�

The Whitecaps will now meet LAFC in a rematch of last year香蕉视频直播檚 first-round playoff series, which saw L.A. dispatch Vancouver in two games.

After faltering at the end of the regular season, a decisive victory gives the 香蕉视频直播楥aps a confidence boost heading into a tough matchup, Armstrong said.

香蕉视频直播淲e knew we were a good team full of potential, but the more you say it without actually giving the results and performances, then the effect starts to wear off,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪o to have such a big performance when it matters and now propelling us into the playoffs, the timing is great.香蕉视频直播�

NOTES: Vancouver is the last remaining Canadian MLS club in this year香蕉视频直播檚 playoff race after CF Montreal dropped its wild-card game to Atlanta United on penalties Tuesday. 香蕉视频直播� Gauld is the third player in MLS playoff history to record three goals and an assist in a single match.