It was a result even the Vancouver Whitecaps hadnB次元官网网址檛 dared to dream of.

With their season on the line, the B次元官网网址楥aps posted an emphatic 5-0 victory over the Portland Timbers in a wild-card matchup Wednesday B次元官网网址� and earned a spot in Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 playoffs in the process.

B次元官网网址淚 think we were all confident of coming here and being able to win, but I donB次元官网网址檛 think many of us were expecting a result like that,B次元官网网址� said captain Ryan Gauld. B次元官网网址淛ust a really good performance overall and good to get the five goals.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver will now face the Western ConferenceB次元官网网址檚 top seed Los Angeles FC in a best-of-three first-round series starting Sunday.

The B次元官网网址楥aps came into WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 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 VancouverB次元官网网址檚 explosive attack with three goals and an assist.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝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, weB次元官网网址檙e a really good side,B次元官网网址� said the Scottish attacking midfielder.

Brian White and Stuart Armstrong also scored and B次元官网网址榢eeper Yohei Takaoka made four saves for the first post-season shutout of his career.

PortlandB次元官网网址檚 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 TimbersB次元官网网址� 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 didnB次元官网网址檛 stop the B次元官网网址楥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 GauldB次元官网网址檚 foot and the attacking midfielder fired off a right-footed shot, pinging it in off Timbers defender Claudio Bravo on the goal line.

B次元官网网址淲hen Ryan Gauld leads the team like he does today, everything becomes easier for everyone else,B次元官网网址� said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

B次元官网网址淭he performance that he put on today? ItB次元官网网址檚 massive. I donB次元官网网址檛 know in the history of the Whitecaps if thereB次元官网网址檚 a performance better than this. B次元官网网址� What he did today is astonishing.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址楥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 B次元官网网址榢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 B次元官网网址楥aps a 4-0 lead.

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

The WhitecapsB次元官网网址� 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 VancouverB次元官网网址檚 attack was impressive, a big part of WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 win came from holding the TimbersB次元官网网址� offence in check, Gauld said.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e had one of the best goal-scoring records in the whole league,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd to keep them mostly quiet for the 90 minutes is a big thing we can take from it.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps will now meet LAFC in a rematch of last yearB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址楥aps a confidence boost heading into a tough matchup, Armstrong said.

B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o to have such a big performance when it matters and now propelling us into the playoffs, the timing is great.B次元官网网址�

NOTES: Vancouver is the last remaining Canadian MLS club in this yearB次元官网网址檚 playoff race after CF Montreal dropped its wild-card game to Atlanta United on penalties Tuesday. B次元官网网址� Gauld is the third player in MLS playoff history to record three goals and an assist in a single match.