VANCOUVER, B.C. – There were plenty of chances, but less of the drama that has marked the Vancouver Whitecaps' early-season exploits at Empire Field.
Still, the Whitecaps finally recorded their first-ever MLS shutout, settling for an entertaining 0-0 draw against Chivas USA on Saturday.
Chivas worked the ball well throughout the 90 minutes, and nearly took an early lead when a corner kick from Heath Pearce found the head of Marcos Mondaini in the second minute, but his attempt was cleared off the goal line by Camilo.
The ‘Caps responded in the sixth minute with Davide Chiumiento finding Kevin Harmse streaking down the right side. Harmse then cut past his defender and fired just off target. Three minutes later they were back on the attack, with a series of beautiful passes ending with a shot from Wes Knight off the near post.
On 30 minutes, Knight had another opportunity, getting on the end of a pass into the box from Eric Hassli and sending a low shot to the far post, but Simon Elliott was on hand to keep it from crossing the goal line. Four minutes later Hassli took things into his own hands, rushing towards goal and firing a low left-footed shot off the far post. Camilo had one final chance before the break, winning a ball in the box before taking a shot wide of the far past to keep the game scoreless going into the half.
Both teams continued to attack in the second half. Knight again came close on 48 minutes, heading a cross from Eric Hassli wide of goal. Chivas then had a header chance in the 54th minute, with Canadian Ante Jazic denied by Jay Nolly.
The ‘Caps desperately searched for a winner with eight minutes left when substitute Long Tan sent a great ball up field to Camilo. The Brazilian then dribbled towards the middle of the park and struck a shot past the far post. In the 89th minute a Jonathan Leathers cross landed at the feet of Nizar Khalfan, but Dan Kennedy came up with a big save to preserve the clean sheet.
Vancouver nearly had a dream ending when rookie Omar Salgado rose high to get on the end of a 90th minute corner kick, but couldn’t get it on target as the game ended scoreless.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0, Chivas USA 0
Scoring: None.
Lineups:
Chivas USA -- Dan Kennedy, Michael Lahoud (Zarek Valentin 46), Andrew Boyens, Heath Pearce, Ante Jazic, Ben Zemanski (Paulo Nagamura 60), Simon Elliott, Nick LaBrocca, Jorge Flores (Francisco Mendoza 75), Marcos Mondaini, Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Justin Braun, Victor Estupinan, Gerson Mayen, Zach Thornton.
Vancouver Whitecaps -- Jay Nolly, Jonathan Leathers, Michael Boxall, Alain Rochat, Blake Wagner, Wes Knight (Omar Salgado 83), Jeb Brovsky, Kevin Harmse, Davide Chiumiento (Nizar Khalfan 68), Eric Hassli (Long Tan 80), Camilo.
Substitutes Not Used: Mouloud Akloul, Philippe Davies, Bilal Duckett, Joe Cannon.
Misconduct Summary:
VAN -- Jeb Brovsky (caution; Reckless Tackle) 55
VAN -- Eric Hassli (caution; Reckless Tackle) 64
CHV -- Nick LaBrocca (caution; Tactical Foul) 67
VAN -- Michael Boxall (caution; Tactical Foul) 86
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Referee's Assistants: -Fabio Tovar; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 20,809
Time of Game: 1:52
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-50-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
