Attorney Dan Conley had "held a press conference" after the

VANCOUVER - Kendall Waston scored in the 70th minute Saturday as the Vancouver Whitecaps clinched a Major League Soccer playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids. The hulking defender flung himself at a Pedro Morales corner kick to head home a goal his team desperately needed as the crowd of 21,000 at B.C. Place Stadium erupted. The Whitecaps entered the weekend one point up on Portland for the fifth and final spot in the Western Conference and had to win in order to advance after the Timbers defeated FC Dallas 2-0 in Texas earlier in the day. Vancouver will now visit Dallas in the Western Conferences No. 4 versus No. 5 one-game playoff on Wednesday. The Whitecaps (12-8-14) missed the 2013 post-season after making the playoffs back in 2012. The Rapids (8-18-8), who were only playing for pride, saw their winless run stretch to 14 games. The Whitecaps didnt know what result they required on the night until the Timbers game was completed just a few minutes into the match in Vancouver. Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson looked to spark his team early in the second half by bringing on speedy striker Kekuta Manneh, and the 19-year-old caused an immediate buzz, rattling the crossbar in the 58th minute behind Clint Irwin with a shot that beat the Colorado goalkeeper cleanly but stayed out. A lack of offence — Vancouver went the equivalent of five games without scoring at one point this year — has been a storyline all season and looked like it might sink the Whitecaps until Robinson rolled the dice again by bringing on Erik Hurtado in the 67th minute with his final substitution. The striker was too sick to start the game but was right next to Waston when he scored his goal, and nearly buried a chance of his own five minutes later. Colorado gave Vancouver a scare with about 10 minutes remaining, but Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted calmly collected the ball after a couple of frantic seconds in the penalty area. Ousted again had to be sharp on two Gabriel Torres chances late to ensure he collected his 13th shutout of the season. Despite the joy at the final whistle, it looked early like it might not be Vancouvers night. The Whitecaps didnt look comfortable right from the opening whistle, with a number passes and chances going astray. Waston directed a header wide off a free kick in the ninth minute before Morales effort moments later flashed wide. Darren Mattocks had another effort in the 19th, but he too missed the target with a header. Morales then shanked a shot from inside the Colorado box seven minutes later. Vancouvers best chance of the half came in the 29th minute when Sebastian Fernandez skipped past a Rapids defender but couldnt beat Irwin from in tight. Colorados only shot on target of the opening 45 minutes came in injury time when Charles Eloundou cut off the rush and forced Ousted into a good save at the near post. Note: The Whitecaps honoured former captain Jay DeMerit before the game. The 34-year-old retired in July and is now an ambassador with the club. ... Both teams had to substitute defenders in the first half, with Steven Beitashour limping off for Vancouver in the 33rd minute, while Marvell Wynne exited for Colorado in the 42nd. Follow @JClipperton_CP on Twitter Custom Minnesota Twins Jerseys .C. - Steve Clifford isnt exactly singing his teams praises after the Bobcats won for the sixth time in seven games. Max Kepler Jersey .com) - Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James will sit out Thursdays game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with left knee soreness. http://www.twinssale.com/twins-miguel-sano-jersey/ .C. -- Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolinas improved performance than about his lastest career milestone. Tony Oliva Jersey . -- Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. Rod Carew Jersey . He was signed to help with depth to the receiving corps because of the loss of Shamawd Chambers to the 6-game injured list.BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have shuffled their lineup by recalling defenceman Mark Pysyk and forward Johan Larsson from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. The moves were announced late Monday morning, before the Sabres (9-24-3) hosted the Phoenix Coyotes (19-10-6). Pysyk returns to Buffalo a week after being sent doown to Rochester.dddddddddddd Larsson returns after being assigned to the minors Nov. 20. The Sabres also demoted defenceman Chad Ruhwedel to Rochester. Coach Ted Nolan said several players are battling a flu bug. They include newly acquired forward Linus Omark, who is not expected to play against Phoenix. ' ' '