SAINT PAUL, MN – Behind a complete team effort, Vancouver Whitecaps FC battled to a scoreless draw against Minnesota United FC in their first visit to Allianz Field on Saturday evening.
The ‘Caps were unfortunate not to take the victory on the night, outshooting the home side 5-1 in shots on target.
For the first time in their MLS history, the ‘Caps started five Canadians, with Maxime Crépeau, Doneil Henry, Derek Cornelius, Russell Teibert, and Theo Bair all getting the nod.
The Loons came out firing in front of their home crowd of 19,845 at Allianz Field, with midfielder Ethan Finlay testing Crépeau early with a left-footed shot from inside the box that drifted just wide of the goal.
Minutes later it was Henry who drew a foul in his own box, but not without sustaining a contusion to his back as he took a knee from Darwin Quintero. The collision would eventually end his night, making way for Érik Godoy to come on as an early substitution for the Canadian big man.
In the 19th minute, the ‘Caps threatened when Ali Adnan delivered in a free kick from outside the box that deflected off of a Minnesota defender and onto the crossbar, but out of danger.
After a quick regroup at halftime, the ‘Caps pushed early for the opening goal as Bair delivered the ball into the box for an open Yordy Reyna, but the Peruvian couldn’t find the back of the net on a first-time volley as Minnesota goalkeeper Vito Mannone corralled the ball.
In the 64th minute, it was Reyna again challenging the Loons, as he tried one from distance that curled towards the low corner, but an outstretched Mannone pushed the ball out.
In the dying seconds of play, it was Loons’ midfielder Darwin Quintero who found himself open at the edge of the box but couldn’t solve Crépeau, striking Minnesota’s only shot on target as the Canadian international claimed his fourth clean sheet of the season.
Whitecaps FC now have a full week in-between matches for the first time in July. They will return to Vancouver to prepare for next Saturday, August 3 when they visit FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. PT, with the match live on TSN and TSN 1040 Radio.
MATCH DETAILS
WFC Man of the Match: Yordy Reyna
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Attendance: 19,845
Statistics
Possession:
MIN 55.6% – VAN 44.4%
Shots:
MIN 16 – VAN 8
Shots on Goal:
MIN 1 – VAN 5
Saves:
MIN 5 – VAN 1
Fouls:
MIN 16 – VAN 11
Offsides:
MIN 1 – VAN 1
Corners:
MIN 4 – VAN 1
Cautions
35’ – MIN – Ethan Finlay
37’ – VAN – Felipe
57’ – VAN – Hwang In-Beom
67’ – MIN – Darwin Quintero
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
16.Maxime Crépeau; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 2.Doneil Henry (22.Érik Godoy 14’), 13.Derek Cornelius, 53.Ali Adnan; 8.Felipe Martins, 4.Inbeom Hwang, 31.Russell Teibert; 29.Yordy Reyna, 50.Theo Bair (7.Lucas Venuto 73’); 12.Fredy Montero © (46.Brett Levis 81’)
Substitutes not used
18.Zac MacMath, 6.Jon Erice, 15.Andy Rose, 23.Scott Sutter
Minnesota United FC
1.Vito Mannone; 19.Romain Métanire, 3.Ike Opara, 15.Michael Boxall, 77.Chase Gasper; 8.Jan Gregus, 6.Osvaldo Alonso, 13.Ethan Finlay (99.Abu Danladi 66’), 25.Darwin Quintero, 10.Miguel Ibarra; 9.Ángelo Rodríguez (23.Mason Toye 66’)
Substitutes not used
33.Bobby Shuttleworth, 12.Lawrence Olum, 14.Brent Kallman, 20.Rasmus Schüller, 31.Hassani Dotson
