The Vancouver Whitecaps (2-1-1, 7pts) and Los Angeles Galaxy (1-1-1, 4pts) fought to a 0-0 draw at BC Place on Saturday night as both sides struggled to put shots on goal. LA was missing 10 players due to international duty, injury, or suspension including Romain Alessandrini and the Santos brothers, Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos . Despite missgin just one player in Kendall Waston the Whitecaps were unable to take advantage of the depleted Galaxy roster to get a win although the draw does make for a franchise record 11 game unbeaten streak at home.
Vancouver had the best scoring chance in the first half as Yordy Reyna was able to get behind the defense and have a one-on-one chance against goalkeeper David Bingham. Cristian Techera was making a run to the far post but Reyna elected to take the shot himself as Bingham closed down Reyna to make the save.
While they were able to create more chances in the second half the Galaxy struggled to keep their shots on target.
Emmanuel Boateng had the best chance to give LA the lead in the 57th minute as he was able to create a breakaway by using his speed and capitalizing on a mistake from Jose Aja. Aja let a long ball go over his head and take a bounce which was enough time for Boateng to win the ball. Now one-on-one with goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, Boateng had time to gather the ball with his left and take a shot but missed wide of the near post.
Vancouver would miss their best chance of the game in the 71st minute when Kei Kamara managed to juggle around multiple LA defenders as well as Bingham to get a look at goal. His last touch around Bingham pulled him too far wide though, creating a difficult angle for the shot. Kamara tried to sneak his shot inside the near post but couldn’t do so as his shot went wide of goal.
Kamara would get one last chance in the final seconds of the match as the ball rebounded out to the top of the box from a corner kick for Kamara to get behind the ball and take a shot. His attempt from the half-volley would sky over the bar as the final whistle blew.
The final stat line for Vancouver and LA officially listed eleven and eight shots respectively but only two and one shot on target with Sebastian Lletget registering the Galaxy’s first and only on target strike in the 78th minute.
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson rued their missed opportunities saying, “I firmly believe we had enough chances or enough ball in the final third; I don’t think our quality was nowhere near good enough.”
Vancouver travels to Columbus next week to face Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, March 31st at 12 PM PT.
