The Vancouver Whitecaps dominated possession but were unable to break the deadlock with C.S. Cartaginés as the match sputtered to a nil draw in Costa Rica.
However, there were plenty of positives on display for the Canadian visitors, who were playing their first competitive match of the season, against a side deep into the latter half of theirs.
Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sørensen credited his players and said for a first leg in a tournament, “it was an okay result.”
“I think we played well and had a good rhythm from the start of the game. And of course, we’d hoped to win here, but we were up against a team that fought really hard,” Sørensen said.
The Whitecaps started the match strong, dominating possession and spending the vast majority of it within Cartaginés’s half. Vancouver was fluid in their ball movement and crisp in their passing.
Notably, Kenji Cabrera looked impressive on the left, sending in several well-timed low crosses from the byline. However, getting someone on the end of them was lacking.
Perhaps it had to do with the state of the pitch, a water-logged strip of grass that made the ball move at times in erratic ways.
Berhalter had the first shot of the match, a hard bullet from distance that was parried away by Cartaginés’s goalkeeper, Kevin Briceno. Emmanuel Sabbi surprised many with an overhead kick later on in the half, but a defender headed it away off the line.
And despite continued ball possession in the second half, the Whitecaps were unable to get that coveted away goal.
Cartaginés gameplan pays off
Cartaginés is not known for their goals. They rely on their defensive ability.
Their play in the Liga de Fútbol de Primera División in Costa Rica is evidence of that. In the Clausura, they have just six goals in seven matches but have only conceded two.
“Sometimes when you play, you have a plan going into the game, and then the opposition, they do something different,” Sørensen said.
The home side was compact and largely disciplined, particularly through the dominant first half for the Whitecaps, never losing their shape. Throughout the match, they seemed content to let Vancouver keep the ball, so long as they stayed to the sides of the pitch.
“I had probably expected that they would have been a little bit more aggressive at home here, but they made it very difficult for us. I think the plan they put up was good.”
Another chance next week for the Whitecaps
The home leg next week is easier on the Whitecaps than Cartaginés. The Whitecaps will begin their MLS season this Saturday at home against Real Salt Lake.
Cartaginés has to wait until Sunday for their league match against A.D. San Carlos. Then, they must make the 6,640 km trip to Vancouver.
Having one less day and the distance to travel will not be easy on the Costa Rican club.
The Vancouver leg is on Wednesday at B.C. Place. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.
