Vancouver's Ryan Gauld becomes the 3rd player with 4 goal contributions in an MLS playoff game

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Ryan Gauld had a hat trick and added an assist to become the third player in league history with four goal contributions in an MLS playoff game, and the Vancouver Whitecaps knocked off the Portland Timbers 5-0 on Wednesday night.

Vancouver matched the largest margin of victory in a postseason match in club history, joining a 5-0 victory against San Jose in 2017. The Whitecaps advance to a best-of-three series against top-seeded Los Angeles FC.

Vancouver scored three goals in 11 minutes in the first half to take control.

Gauld opened the scoring in the 20th minute by knocking home a rebound after a wild sequence inside the box that included two saves by goalkeeper James Pantemis.

Brian White made it 2-0 in the 24th when he was left wide open at the back post for an easy tap-in of Mathias Laborda’s pass across the goal.

Gauld scored again in the 31st after settling Stuart Armstrong’s pass with his chest and volleying a shot over Pantemis.

Armstrong headed in Fafà Picault's cross in the 51st and Gauld added a sliding finish off another assist by Armstrong in the 59th. Gauld joined Sebastian Giovinco (2016) and Landon Donovan (2014) with four goal contributions in a playoff game.

It was the most goals Vancouver scored in a game all season.

Vancouver's “home” game was played at Portland's Providence Park due to scheduling conflicts at BC Place, giving the ninth-seed Timbers home-field advantage against the eighth-seed Whitecaps. It was the first postseason game at Providence Park since the MLS Cup final in 2021.

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White, left, smiles after his goal during the first half oa an MLS playoff match against the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Portland, Ore. (Sean Meagher/The Oregonian via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps players celebrate after midfielder Ryan Gauld's goal during the first half oa an MLS playoff match against the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 in Portland, Ore. (Sean Meagher/The Oregonian via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Stuart Armstrong, right, celebrates the goal against the Portland Timbers during the second half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White, reacts to a foul call against the Portland Timbers during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Vancouver Whitecaps Ranko Veselinović, left, Brian White, right, celebrate a goal against the Portland Timbers during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld scores a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Portland Timbers Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Widespread flooding and landslides set off by a tropical storm in the northeastern Philippines on Thursday left at least 24 people dead, swept away cars and prompted authorities to scramble for motorboats to rescue trapped villagers, some on roofs.

The government shut down schools and offices — except those urgently needed for disaster response — for the second day on the entire main island of Luzon to protect millions of people after Tropical Storm Trami slammed into the country’s northeastern province of Isabela after midnight.

The storm was blowing over Aguinaldo town in the mountain province of Ifugao after dawn with sustained winds up to 95 kph (59 mph) and gusts up to 160 kph (99 mph). It was blowing westward and was forecast to enter the South China Sea later on Thursday, according to state forecasters.

At least 24 people died, mostly due to drowning in the hard-hit Bicol region and nearby Quezon province but the toll was expected to rise as towns and villages isolated by flooding and roads blocked by landslides and toppled trees manage to send out reports, police and provincial officials said.

Most of the storm deaths were reported in the six-province Bicol region, southeast of Manila, where at least 20 people died, including 7 residents in Naga city, which was inundated by flash floods as Trami was approaching Tuesday, dumping more than two months’ worth of rainfall in just 24 hours at high tide, regional police chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon and other officials said.

While thousands of villagers, who were trapped in floodwaters, have been rescued by government forces, many more needed to be saved Thursday in the Bicol region, including some on roofs. About 1,500 police officers have been deployed for disaster-mitigation work, Dizon said.

“We can’t rescue them all at once because there are so many and we need additional motorboats," Dizon told The Associated Press by telephone. “We’re looking for ways to deliver food and water to those who were trapped but could not be evacuated right away.”

Flash floods swept away and submerged cars in some parts of Naga city while mudflows from Mayon, one of the country’s 24 active volcanoes, in nearby Albay province, engulfed several vehicles, Dizon said.

Stormy weather remained in the region, hampering relief efforts, officials said.

The government’s disaster-mitigation agency said more than 2 million people were affected by the storm, including 75,400 villagers who were displaced from their homes and are sheltering on safer ground.

About 20 storms and typhoons batter the Philippines each year. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded tropical cyclones in the world, left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and flattened entire villages.

A man walks past damages caused by flash floods on Thursday Oct. 24, 2024 after Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, dumped heavy rains at Libon town, Albay province, Philippines. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)

A man crosses flooded rice fields on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 after Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, dumped heavy rains at Libon town, Albay province, Philippines. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)

A man walks past damages caused by flash floods on Thursday Oct. 24, 2024 after Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, dumped heavy rains at Libon town, Albay province, Philippines. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)

A man crosses a flooded rice field during rains on Thursday Oct. 24, 2024 after Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, dumped heavy rains at Libon town, Albay province, Philippines. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)

Residents are ferried on a rubber boat after being rescued from their roofs where they stayed to avoid high floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami hit Libon town, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Michelle Ricasio via AP)

Residents are ferried on a rubber boat after being rescued from their roofs where they stayed to avoid high floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami hit Libon town, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Michelle Ricasio via AP)

Residents are ferried on a rubber boat after being rescued from their roofs where they stayed to avoid high floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami hit Libon town, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Michelle Ricasio via AP)

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, residents staying on top of their roofs to avoid floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, await to be rescued at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a resident carries a baby as they are rescued from their roofs where they were staying to avoid floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

A resident walks beside a truck buried by volcanic mud that flowed down from Mayon volcano after heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Trami hit Guinobatan town, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/John Michael Magdasoc)

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers carry residents trapped in their home after floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, hit their village at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

In this handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, rescuers carry a resident trapped in their homes after floods caused by Tropical Storm Trami, locally named Kristine, hit their village at Libon, Albay province, Philippines on Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)