The Vancouver Whitecaps faced a frustrating evening as they were held to a scoreless draw against FC Dallas in their latest MLS match on Saturday night at B.C. Place. Despite controlling much of the game and creating 20 shots with five on target, the Whitecaps couldn’t break through, hitting the post three times and failing to convert their opportunities.
Defender Ranko Veselinovic voiced his disappointment after the match, expressing sadness over the result despite the team’s dominant performance for the majority of the game.
“We controlled the game for 80 of the 90 minutes,” Veselinovic said. “It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t score and finish it off in the best way.”
The Whitecaps’ attack kept the crowd of 23,188 on edge, with midfielders Mathias Laborda and Sebastian Berhalter coming close to finding the back of the net in the first half. However, Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer proved a formidable opponent, denying multiple chances and keeping the visitors in the game. Late in the match, midfielder Deiber Caicedo appeared to be on the verge of scoring, but a diving Maurer prevented him from capitalizing, and other last-minute efforts from Caicedo and Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau fell short.
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini praised his team’s performance but shared his frustration over the final result. “We played very well, but I’m not satisfied because we deserved to win,” Sartini said. “We were the better team today.”
The draw moved Vancouver to sixth place in the Western Conference with 42 points and extended their solid form, with the team now 5-1-2 in their last eight matches, including two consecutive clean sheets. On the other side, FC Dallas remains 10th in the West, sitting two points out of a playoff spot with a dismal 1-8-5 road record.
The Whitecaps were notably shorthanded for the game, missing five key players, including midfielder Ryan Gauld, the team’s second-highest scorer, who was called up for international duty. Forward Brian White, the Whitecaps’ leading scorer, was also sidelined due to concussion protocol. Despite these absences, Sartini commended the contributions of players like Ralph Priso and Belal Halbouni, who stepped up into starting roles and performed admirably. “Ralph was phenomenal,” said Sartini, emphasizing his pride in the team’s effort.
Making his debut for Vancouver was Scottish international Stuart Armstrong, who entered the match in the 84th minute. Though he had limited time on the pitch, Armstrong acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to a new league but remained optimistic about improving with more game time. “It’s always a little rusty at first, but I’ll get better with more minutes,” he remarked.
The Whitecaps found their rhythm as the game progressed, creating a flurry of chances in the first half, including a near-miss from Alessandro Schopf, whose shot clanged off the post. Laborda also had his efforts thwarted, including a header saved by Maurer, while Berhalter tested the goalkeeper with a dangerous free kick that was expertly stopped.
Despite the missed opportunities, Veselinovic highlighted the team’s composure, noting they didn’t allow frustration to turn into mistakes. “We stayed patient,” he said, confident that the team’s effort would pay off in future matches.
Game Notes:Vancouver has five of their remaining eight games at home, where they boast a solid road record of 7-4-3. Meanwhile, Dallas has three away games left in their final six matches of the season. Several Whitecaps players were away on international duty, including Ryan Gauld (Scotland), Ali Ahmed (Canada), Andres Cubas (Paraguay), Pedro Vite (Ecuador), and Fafa Picault (Haiti).
Up Next:The Whitecaps will look to bounce back next Saturday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at B.C. Place, while Dallas faces Real Salt Lake on Sept. 18.
