Cheikh Sabaly’s second-half goal led the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-0 victory over CF Montreal on Saturday.
Mihail Gherasimencov also scored as Vancouver (19-8-7, 64 points) locked up the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs and finished with MLS’ second-best record.
The Whitecaps completed the regular season on a three-match winning streak and also extended their unbeaten streak over Canadian opponents in MLS play to nine matches (7-0-2).
Keeper Yohei Takaoka made three saves for the clean sheet.
CF Montreal (6-20-8, 26 points), at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, ended its season with three losses in its last four matches.
Samsy Keita made six saves in the loss.
Sabaly put the Whitecaps on the board in the 50th minute as the sides exchanged multiple quality scoring chances early in the second half. Keita saved the Vancouver forward’s initial strike, but Sabaly converted his own rebound for his third goal of the season.
Gherasimencov gave the Whitecaps insurance in the 83rd minute as his strike off a Bruno Caicedo cross got past a diving Keita for his first career MLS goal.
Vancouver nearly took a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute, but Sabaly rattled his strike off the crossbar.
Moments later, Montreal hit the woodwork when Noah Streit’s strike got past Takaoka.
In the 49th minute, Keita made a diving save off Rayan Elloumi’s strike from the top of the box.
The Whitecaps controlled possession in the first half and had the only two shots on target, but the two sides were scoreless at halftime.
Vancouver put its first shot on frame in the 23rd minute when Yadaly Diaby headed it on target, but Keita was in position to make the save.
A minute later, Diaby’s strike from the top of the box curled just wide of the goal.
Montreal nearly opened the scoring in the 34th minute, but Olger Escobar’s strike from the top of the area sailed over the bar.
–Field Level Media
