With both sides down key players on international duty, the host Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night with late drama.
Vancouver (12-8-6, 42 points) hit the woodwork on three separate occasions, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Without leading goal scorers Brian White (concussion protocol) and Ryan Gauld (international duty), the Whitecaps made do with a group that featured five regular starters missing.
With less than a minute of second-half stoppage time remaining, Deiber Caicedo had a golden chance to earn the home victory. Instead, Jimmy Maurer made a save that gave Dallas a point away from home.
In the 85th minute, Vancouver had another chance, again with Caicedo. After entering the match in the 73rd minute, Caicedo made a well-timed run to give himself a breakaway.
However, the striker’s first touch was too much, giving Maurer the chance to swat the ball away. With Vancouver keeping possession, the Dallas defense came to Maurer’s aid to stop two second-chance attempts.
It was that kind of night for Maurer and Dallas (9-12-7, 34 points), with regular goalkeeper Maarten Paes out on international duty. The Whitecaps tried all they could to take advantage of Maurer playing in his first match in all competitions this season.
The Whitecaps’ best first-half attempt came in the 24th minute, off a Dallas clearance. The ball came to the foot of Alessandro Schopf, who sent in a curling effort that clanged off the right post.
In the 33rd minute, Mathias Laborda headed the ball over Maurer, and it looked like a goal was coming if not for defender Sebastien Ibeagha heading the ball out behind the goalkeeper.
Vancouver hit the woodwork two more times in the match, and Dallas shot it off the post in the second half. Paul Arriola took a shot out of the 18-yard box that went by goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka and off the post in the 66th minute. On the rebound, Petar Musa put into the net but was ruled offside.
Stuart Armstrong, the new midfield signing for Vancouver, debuted in the 84th minute after signing with the MLS side from Southampton FC of the Premier League on Tuesday. The former Scotland international had a chance at a late assist in the box, but the Dallas defense squashed the opportunity.
–Field Level Media