VANCOUVER, B.C — Vancouver Whitecaps FC earned their first point of the season Saturday, keeping high-flying Seattle Sounders FC off the scoresheet with a scoreless draw at B.C. Place Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 24,803 supporters.
The first Cascadia Cup match of the season failed to live up to expectations with neither side scoring a goal. Vancouver used a bend-but-not-break approach, doing just enough to stop a dangerous Sounders FC offense. The visitors could not break a strong Whitecaps FC backline.
“We were really solid,” Whitecaps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau said. “I think there was one scramble in the first half, and a shot from [Seattle striker Raúl] Ruidíaz that comes from the middle. All the rest were crossing, so we were really tight and forcing them to go wide. Dealing with crosses, Doneil [Henry], Erik [Godoy], the boys were fantastic defensively. It was a mindset of not losing a duel, and we showed it today.”
Vancouver improved to 0-3-1 on the season, while Seattle’s winning streak halted at three matches. Sounders FC remain unbeaten with a 3-0-1 record.
“I think the mentality and the commitment, the players, I would say, were at the level of the fans tonight,” Caps coach Marc Dos Santos told reporters postmatch. “Now, could we have created a little bit more opportunities? Yeah. In moments, we didn’t hold the ball well enough to allow the team to move up.
“We weren’t that clean in the first half, especially in their half. Did we have big moments to create chances? Yes. There’s this big chance by [Joaquín] Ardaiz in the final stages of the game that led to the VAR decision. I think overall, it is a step forward.”
Saturday’s match made MLS history because Vancouver and Seattle each fielded South Korean internationals. Sounders FC centerback Kim Kee-hee started for Seattle, while Hwang In-Beom came on as Whitecaps substitute in the 71st minute.
In-Beom, Vancouver’s prized offseason signing, just about made the difference as he appeared to earn his side a stoppage-time penalty. Kim Kee-hee dove across the Seattle goal and blocked In-Beom’s attempt on an open net. Referee Robert Sibiga pointed to the spot, but it wasn’t to be. After consulting the Video Assistant Referee, he overturned the penalty decision.
“Yeah, I’m always careful to talk about this,” Dos Santos said about VAR decisions. “I’ll put it like this: If this type of foul was in the midfield, I think the ref would have whistled the foul. I think it was reckless. He went all the way to try and defend his goal. I understand then his movement continues. It was reckless.
“We can’t mix other games that we’ve played into this one, because one game is in Houston and another one here. If you look at the type of foul from Derek [Cornelius] on [Alberth] Elis, and now this one — why is one a penalty, and the other one no?”
Seattle’s Stefan Frei earned his second clean sheet of the season with three saves. The 24-year-old Crepeau earned his first career MLS clean sheet. The Caps shot-stopper made several key saves in the second half. Crepeau finished with three saves, his best coming off a long-range strike from Swedish international Gustav Svensson.
“I didn’t even think about this,” Crepeau said of his first clean sheet. “Yeah, it feels good, but it’s just the beginning. Going to the USL last year was great for me, personally, as a goalkeeper to get the games. It was fantastic. I grew from there, and now it’s the same thing here in MLS. It’s about getting momentum, . . . Championships are won by defense, we all know that, and then it’s about details going forward. If we can keep a zero behind, we’ll be a great team in the playoffs.”
Vancouver will look to build on its first result of the season when hosting the LA Galaxy at B.C. Place April 5. Seattle returns home to CenturyLink Field to host Real Salt Lake the following day.