The Vancouver Whitecaps have lived and died off set pieces in 2017.

A clinical performance Wednesday helped the franchise to its first-ever playoff victory.

Cristian Techera scored on a stunning free kick before Vancouver poured it on late in a 5-0 drubbing of the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 single-elimination knockout round.

The Whitecaps scored 15 goals off dead-ball situations during the regular season and added three more in what turned into a dominating night after some early jitters.

B次元官网网址淚f you work hard at things you get your rewards,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver head coach Carl Robinson. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got the takers, the deliverers of balls, and weB次元官网网址檝e also got people who can get on the end of things.

B次元官网网址淎nyone who comes by our training sees the amount of work we spend on it.B次元官网网址�

Nicolas Mezquida, with two, Fredy Montero and Kendall Waston had the other goals for Vancouver, which had three losses and a draw in four previous post-season matches since joining MLS in 2011.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 delighted for everyone involved with the football club tonight, and everyone involved with the city,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址淲e needed a little bit of success, and we got a little bit of success today.

B次元官网网址淏ut thatB次元官网网址檚 all it is.B次元官网网址�

The third-seeded Whitecaps will now face the Seattle Sounders, who finished second in the Western Conference and won last yearB次元官网网址檚 title, in a home and away aggregate semifinal that starts Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e playing against the champs,B次元官网网址� added Robinson. B次元官网网址淲e know weB次元官网网址檙e going to be underdogs. I like the underdog role.B次元官网网址�

After setting up MonteroB次元官网网址檚 opener in the first half, the pint-sized Techera curled a left-footed free kick over the wall and into the top corner from 30 yards out past a helpless Andrew Tarbell in the 57th minute to send the crowd of 21,083 into a frenzy.

Waston added VancouverB次元官网网址檚 third goal seven minutes later off a corner after the ball pinged around the San Jose penalty area before being bundled over the line.

Mezquida, who subbed on in the 68th minute, then scored in 78th and 80th to complete the romp as the Whitecaps scored five times in a game for the first time this year.

B次元官网网址淭here were a number of top-class performances,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址淭he heart and the desire and determination to want to win the game B次元官网网址� the boys donB次元官网网址檛 quit.B次元官网网址�

Montero gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute after a nervy opening when Waston redirected a Techera corner right to the designated player, who made no mistake from in close.

The Colombian striker said heB次元官网网址檚 never been on a team that has relied this much on set pieces for offence.

B次元官网网址淭his is something unique,B次元官网网址� said Montero. B次元官网网址淲e should keep believing we can keep hurting teams with this weapon.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver returned to the MLS Cup playoffs after missing out by eight points in 2016, while sixth-seeded San Jose made the post-season for the first time since 2012 thanks to SundayB次元官网网址檚 dramatic 3-2 stoppage-time victory over Minnesota United.

The Whitecaps could have avoided WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 winner-take-all encounter with a victory over the Earthquakes at home on Oct. 15 in a game that ended 1-1, or by grabbing at least a draw in a 2-1 weekend road loss to the Portland Timbers.

Vancouver instead limped to the regular-season finish line with a 1-3-1 record, but were full marks on this night.

B次元官网网址淲e talked about set pieces being a huge key,B次元官网网址� said Earthquakes head coach Chris Leitch. B次元官网网址淭hat was the element that was really our Achilles heel.B次元官网网址�

San Jose had a decent opportunity to equalize while down 1-0 less than a minute into the second half when Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic had to be sharp on Chris WondolowskiB次元官网网址檚 shot from in tight, but after a couple more half chances, that would be it for San Jose.

With the stadiumB次元官网网址檚 retractable roof open on a chilly evening, Vancouver started tentatively and was almost made to pay in the fourth minute when Anibal Godoy forced a leaping save out of Marinovic on a free kick from 25 yards out.

The hosts looked nervous with a number of errant passes and giveaways early on, but started to play better as the half wore on and looked the more likely side to score when Montero finally broke through.

B次元官网网址淵ou saw what it meant to the players and the club,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址淲e were so determined to get that first playoff win, and we did.

B次元官网网址淒id we do it style? Yeah, we probably did.B次元官网网址�

Notes: The EarthquakesB次元官网网址� bizarre regular season that included a minus-21 goal difference B次元官网网址� good for third-worst in all MLS B次元官网网址� saw the club get outscored by two goals or more in 12 of its 14 defeats by a combined score of 42-6. B次元官网网址� Since the league expanded its playoff format in 2011, five of the 16 teams to advance from the knockout round have made the MLS Cup, with three clubs winning it all, including the last two years.