VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Daniel Ríos found the net in the first half, Thomas Müller and Kenji Cabrera scored in the second and the Vancouver Whitecaps blanked FC Dallas 3-0 on Sunday in a best-of-three first-round opener of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Yohei Takaoka did not have to make a save in earning his third clean sheet in seven postseason starts for the Whitecaps, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Neither team scored until Ríos found the net in the 43rd minute to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead at halftime. Ali Ahmed collected his first playoff assist in his sixth appearance on Ríos’ second career postseason goal, and Sebastian Berhalter notched his second in six playoff appearances.

Müller scored on a penalty kick in the 60th minute for a two-goal advantage. Müller took th

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