VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (15W-12L-5D) clinched a berth in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs after playing to a scoreless draw with rival FC Dallas (15W-10L-4D) on Wednesday night at BC Place.
- Visit whitecapsfc.com/playoffs for ticket info, important dates, and more!
It was a tense match from start to finish between two evenly-matched teams.
A goal simply wasn’t in the cards, however. Budweiser Man of the Match David Ousted made four saves en route to his 12th clean sheet of the season, which is tied for the league-high.
<strong><b>POST-MATCH<br>
INTERVIEWS:</b></strong> |
<a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/07/robinson-once-youre-who-knows?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/interview_robinson_w.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/07/ousted-theres-still-more-come-us?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/2015_interview_ousted.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px; "></a><a href="//www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2015/10/07/harvey-im-proud-guys?autoplay=true" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://vancouver-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/2015_interview_harvey_w.png" style="width: 140px; height: 60px;"></a> |
With two matches remaining, the ‘Caps remain third in the Western Conference with 50 points – that matches their club record in MLS.
FC Dallas and LA Galaxy sit first and second respectively with 51 points apiece.
You could sense the enormity of this one in the early going.
There wasn’t a whole lot of space out there either way. Russell Teibert, who drew into the starting lineup in place of Gershon Koffie, did a good job limiting Mauro Diaz’s impact on the game. And rookie centre back Tim Parker looked steady as usual.
At the other end, Dallas proved difficult to break down in their own right. It was a cagey first half, but both sides still managed to create some decent chances.
For Whitecaps FC, a lively Octavio Rivero came close on a pair of early headers, including one that looped onto the top of the crossbar in the 13th minute. Pa-Modou Kah also got on the end of a Mauro Rosales corner in the 19th minute only to see Kellyn Acosta head it away.
Dallas, meanwhile, looked a threat on the counter and forced Ousted into a couple tricky saves – one on Diaz in the 20th minute and one on Ryan Hollingshead in the 25th.
After an early second-half chance from Rosales, who was one of Vancouver’s liveliest players going forward, Ousted came up big again for the ‘Caps. This time, he made a fantastic diving stop on a David Texeira strike from the top of the six-yard box to keep the score level.
Both sides had some late chances – FC Dallas substitute Blas Perez came within inches of scoring in the 90th minute – but there would be no winner on this night.
This was just Vancouver’s second scoreless draw this season.
It wasn’t the result Whitecaps FC wanted, but it was the result they needed to clinch their second straight playoff berth and third in five years.
Whitecaps FC and FC Dallas will meet again a week from today at Toyota Stadium (6 p.m. PT on TSN). The ‘Caps will then conclude the regular season at home against Houston Dynamo on October 25.
NEWS AND NOTES
Whitecaps FC were without defenders Kendall Waston (international duty) and Steven Beitashour (suspension for caution accumulation) on Wednesday … Attacking midfielders Pedro Morales and Nicolas Mezquida were also left out of the squad with hamstring injuries … Winger Cristian Techera left the match in the 75th minute with a tight hamstring … Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted started his 80th consecutive MLS match on Wednesday (including playoffs) … Jordan Harvey’s wife Kim Caldwell gave birth to the couple’s first child on Wednesday morning: Harlow Monroe Harvey.
MCMILLAN ‘CAPS CORNER KICK DONATIONS
For every ‘Caps corner kick at home, McMillan donates $100 to the United Way. An additional $500 is donated for every goal scored off a corner kick. This match McMillan Corners for Kids has donated $600.
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! 2016 Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: David Ousted
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 19,339
Scoring Summary
None
Stats
Shots: Vancouver 8 – Dallas 12
Shots on Goal: Vancouver 2 – Dallas 4
Saves: Vancouver 4 – Dallas 2
Fouls: Vancouver 10 – Dallas 11
Offsides: Vancouver 2 – Dallas 2
Corners: Vancouver 6 – Dallas 9
Cautions
None
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.David Ousted ©; 6.Jordan Smith, 44.Pa-Modou Kah, 26.Tim Parker, 2.Jordan Harvey; 15.MatÃas Laba (28.Gershon Koffie 89’), 31.Russell Teibert; 13.Cristian Techera (11.Darren Mattocks 75’), 7.Mauro Rosales (88.Robert Earnshaw 86’), 23.Kekuta Manneh; 29.Octavio Rivero
Substitutes not used
70.Paolo Tornaghi, 18.Diego Rodriguez, 20.Deybi Flores, 22.Christian Dean
FC Dallas
44.Jesse Gonzalez; 12.Ryan Hollingshead, 17.Zach Lloyd, 24.Matt Hedges ©, 27.Je-Vaughn Watson; 8.Victor Ulloa, 23.Kellyn Acosta (5.Ezequiel Cirigliano 69’); 13.Tesho Akindele, 10.Mauro Diaz (14.Atiba Harris 88’), 21.Michael Barrios; 9.David Texeira (7.Blas Perez 83’)
Substitutes not used
1.Dan Kennedy, 20.Rolando Escobar, 25.Walker Zimmerman, 31.Michel
