VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Octavio Rivero and Cristian Techera scored 4 minutes apart in the second half to help the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Wednesday night to move into first place overall in Major League Soccer.
Vancouver pulled two points ahead of the LA Galaxy.
Rivero scored in the 73rd minute, heading home his 10th of the season off a ball over the top from Techera. Rivero tore off his jersey in celebration -- a reaction that earned him a yellow card -- before being mobbed by teammates.
Techera buried his sixth past a helpless Rapids keeper Clint Irwin in the 77th minute.
Prior to Wednesday's match, Colorado had won three straight games.
Meanwhile in Portland, Goalkeeper Tim Melia fended off a flurry of Timbers shots as Sporting Kansas City snapped a three-game losing streak with a 0-0 draw.
Melia recorded a career-high seven saves for his seventh shutout of the season, and first since a 1-0 victory at Vancouver on July 12.
Sporting KC and Portland are locked in a battle for playoff positions, knotted in a three-way tie for fourth in the Western Conference with Seattle with 41 points apiece.
Portland extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.