Nelson and Blackmon each score a goal for Whitecaps in 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Jayden Nelson, back right, is shoved off the ball by Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad, back left, as Philip Quinton, front left, watches during the second half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Jayden Nelson, right, falls after being shoved off the ball by Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon, center, celebratesafter his goal with Tate Johnson (28), Sebastian Berhalter (16), Daniel Rios, right, and J.C. Ngando, back, during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Daniel Rios, top, is tackled by Real Salt Lake’s Alexandros Katranis, bottom, as he attempts to get to the rebound after being stopped on a penalty kick during the second half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Tristan Blackmon celebrates after his goal against Real Salt Lake during the second half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Real Salt Lake’s Noel Caliskan gets his head on the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Real Salt Lake’s Emeka Eneli, right, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Edier Ocampo vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen walks off the field during halftime of an MLS soccer match against Real Salt Lake, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Jayden Nelson and Tristan Blackmon each scored a goal for Vancouver on Saturday night in a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake and the Whitecaps continued the best start to a season in club history.

The Whitecaps (8-1-2) are unbeaten in six consecutive games and have allowed just three goals during that span. The points leaders in all of MLS, Vancouver is just the sixth team in league history with at least 26 through the first 11 games.

Nelson, on the counter-attack, faked left and the cut back right to split a pair of defenders before calmly beating goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, who had come off his line, with rolling in a shot from the center of the area that opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

Sebastian Berhalter played a low ball-in from the right side to Blackmon for a one-touch finish from the center of the area that slipped inside the near post and under the crossbar in the 70th to make it 2-0.

Yohei Takaoka stopped two shots for Vancouver.

Diego Luna converted from the spot for Real Salt Lake (4-7-0) in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Cabral finished with seven saves, including a stop of a penalty kick by Daniel Ríos in the 68th minute.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer