The Vancouver Whitecaps scored twice in four second-half minutes to beat the Colorado Rapids 2-0 and move two points clear at the top of the Western Conference on Wednesday evening.

Octavio Rivero created the first opportunity of the match for the hosts with a clever pass to find Kekuta Manneh, whose deflected strike drifted wide of the post.

The Whitecaps dominated for much of the first half, but chances were difficult to come by and they almost fell behind against the run of play when David Ousted was forced off his line to deny Marcelo Sarvas.

Space started to be found by the Vancouver attacking players after the break, and they twice threatened to break the deadlock as Manneh fired straight at Clint Irwin before the Colorado goalkeeper kept out a header from Rivero.

Vancouver finally took the lead with just under 20 minutes remaining when Cristian Techera found the space to deliver an inviting cross which Rivero headed home powerfully.

Any hopes of a Colorado comeback were quickly dashed as the Whitecaps added a second through Techera, who secured the win by firing in an emphatic finish after his initial effort was blocked.