Photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports

By TYLER GRAY

The Vancouver Whitecaps kept their playoff hopes alive with a come-from-behind victory over visiting Real Salt Lake.

Pedro Morales provided the brace that propelled the Caps to a 2-1 victory over RSL after the visitors had gone ahead on Nat Borchers’ second-half header. Morales missed a penalty kick attempt in first-half stoppage time, but made up for it with another from the spot and a second from the run of play in the second half.

Morales tore off his shirt and celebrated with gusto upon scoring his second goal of the match. The Chilean’s attempt from the spot was blocked in first-half stoppage time, but Morales came roaring back to score two unanswered in the second half.

The second goal came fromsome excellent positioning. Vancouver’s initial shot was cleared away but sent back in low and hard straight at Morales who redirected the shot cleanly into the back of the net, securing the final 2-1 scoreline.

Real Salt Lake first broke the deadlock when Nat Borchers finally got his first goal of the season in the 57th minute, getting his head on a Javier Morales corner kick.

Borchers was on his way away from the net but was still able to direct his header towards the back post, tucking it inside the goal to break the deadlock.

Vancouver answered back only seven minutes later when the second penalty kick of the afternoon was whistled on RSL.

Morales again stepped to the spot, going the same way again but this time with a more precise, powerful strike. RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella couldn’t stop it this time and the comeback was on.

Real Salt Lake had one last chance at the death to tie it up when midfielder Ned Grabavoy was fouled on the edge of the box. Attinella joined the set piece and got his head on the free kick, but sailed it over the crossbar.

Here are the match highlights: