In a match where the Vancouver Whitecaps had to deal with multiple international call-ups and an injury to their star striker, they mounted a dominant attack against FC Dallas but could only come up with a point in the goalless draw.
The Whitecaps had 21 shots to Dallas’s seven and had an xG of 1.73 to the visitor’s 0.65. The mostly one-sided match would normally have seen any team get the full three points.
But a Player of the Match performance from FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer kept his side level.
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini commented his side “played very well.”
“I’m not satisfied because we deserved to win,” he added. “I think we played better than them. I think we had a lot of chances, some of them were very close, like the two at the end. But I’m very, extremely proud of the team. Everyone played really well.”
An early pushing match between Tristan Blackmon and Petar Musa played as an indicator of what this match would bring.
The opening 10 minutes was a testy affair with plenty of pushing and jostling for position on the ball and neither side was willing to give an inch.
Alessandro Schöpf had a cracking chance in the 25th minute, a one-timed shot that rang off the post. The rebound was picked up and shot across the face of the goal but left the Whitecaps with nothing to show for the effort.
In the 33rd minute, Mathías Laborda rose high at the edge of the 6-yard box with a thunderous header. It took a smart reaction save from Maurer to keep the match level.
Second-half debuts for Édier Ocampo and Stuart Armstrong as well as a reintroduction of Déiber Caicedo were not enough to get the Whitecaps over the line. However, it did lead to a frantic final ten minutes where the home side threw everything they had at Maurer. But the backup goalkeeper for Dallas stood tall, backstopping his team to a goalless draw.
“Today was amazing. Unfortunately, we missed the cherry on top with the goal.”
Dealing with international call-ups
With Ali Ahmed, Ryan Gauld, Fafà Picault and Pedro Vite all on international duty, the Whitecaps were forced into putting together a starting XI that included a few names not normally seen as starters.
Brian White was also still out on concussion protocol, which added further constraints to the line-up.
Debuts for Ocampo and Armstrong helped to offset the players that were missing.
“I think you had a glimpse of what [Ocampo] can do,” Sartini said. “A couple times, he went 1v1. He was much more powerful than [Marco] Farfan]…He still doesn’t know the nuances. He’s learning. A couple times, he was bringing the ball too much inside and almost creating himself a problem instead of playing it and going. That’s what we want him to do. But he did a really well.”
New life injected into the lineup
Sartini joked that he was “lucky they didn’t call up everyone.”
He credited the more experienced players, those who are routinely in the starting XI, with providing the leadership required.
Of the players who started but do not normally get that chance, Sartini said, “The future is beautiful.”
In particular, Sartini mentioned Ralph Priso as a player who stepped up to the opportunity given to him.
“Ralph was phenomenal,” the Whitecaps head coach said. “I’m really happy because he’s also a guy that’s very, I would say, I love the guy, personally. He went through a phase this season where, not playing, you can be down and doubt yourself a lot. And today, playing instead of Mr. Andrés Cubas was very good.”
In addition to Priso, Bilal Halbouni was noted. Halbouni has seen his playing time skyrocket since getting his first minutes in the Leagues Cup at the end of July.
Tristan Blackmon also got a rare start. Plagued by injury, Blackmon spent almost three months on the sidelines as he healed and regained match fitness.
Up next
It’s a week off until San Jose Earthquakes come to BC Place. It has been a rough season for San Jose, who currently sit last in the West.
That match is on Sept. 14. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.