Vancouver, Los Angeles battle to scoreless draw
The Vancouver Whitecaps and visiting Los Angeles Galaxy played to a 0-0 draw in Major League Soccer action Saturday night at BC Place in Vancouver.
The Whitecaps (2-1-1) rebounded from a one-sided loss in Atlanta in their previous game, enjoying most of the scoring chances in the well-played match, which was more entertaining than the score indicated. The Galaxy (1-1-1) earned a point after losing to New York City FC last weekend.
Both teams were missing key players due to injuries and international duties. Vancouver's absentees included captain Kendall Waston, who was away with his Costa Rican national squad. But the Whitecaps were bolstered by the return of Marcel de Jong, who played left back after missing last weekend's game in Atlanta with a bruised lung. He had not been expected to play.
The Whitecaps received a scare in the seventh minute as 17-year-old phenom Alphonso Davies stayed down after being pushed by Perry Kitchen. Davies was tended by trainers and went to the sidelines briefly, but returned.
Star Vancouver striker Kei Kamara, back after missing last weekend's loss in Atlanta, made an astute defensive move in the 11th minute as he blocked a shot by Sebastian Lletget from about 6 yards out. Otherwise, the Galaxy generated few scoring opportunities in the first half, but ball possession was virtually even between the teams.
Vancouver's Cristian Techera almost put the Whitecaps on the scoreboard in the 37th minute, sending a shot from the left flank just over the crossbar. Two minutes later, L.A. goalkeeper David Bingham robbed Yordy Reyna on a rush down left wing. Reyna put his shot into Bingham, as he came way out of his net, and the ball rebounded back off the Whitecap and out of bounds.
That was the only shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Early in the second half, Bingham stopped Jakob Nerwinski's shot from the right flank. Two minutes later, Galaxy defender Rolf Feltscher received a yellow card for a hard foul on de Jong.
Vancouver's Techera had another scoring chance, on a free kick from just outside the L.A. box, but he again put the ball over the crossbar. In the 71st minute, Kamara missed an excellent chance as he ran on to a lead ball, eluded defenders, bounced it past Bingham and then shot wide.
L.A.'s best -- and only chance of the night -- came in the 86th minute as Emmanuel Boateng was stopped by Vancouver goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic.
Both teams used their three substitutions late in the match. Vancouver pressured in the closing minutes, earning some corner kicks, but could not capitalize.
--Field Level Media
