The Vancouver Whitecaps extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a scoreless draw against host Austin FC on Saturday in a game filled with spectacular saves.
The shutout, the Whitecaps’ third straight in league play, improved their stretch without allowing a goal to 320 minutes dating to late in the first half of a 1-1 draw at Minnesota on March 29. The Whitecaps (2-2-4, 10 points) have not lost since a 2-1 setback in San Jose on March 4.
Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka had seven saves to record the third clean sheet of his eight-game MLS career, turning away three shots through the final 11 minutes that included seven minutes of added time. The final save came in the 96th minute when Takaoka punched a shot by Gyasi Zardes that was heading into the upper right corner over the crossbar.
Austin veteran keeper Brad Stuver stopped four shots to secure his second shutout of the season and the 16th of his career.
Austin (2-3-2, eight points) has been shut out in three of its last four games and has just one goal over that stretch.
Both teams had quality chances to score in the first half.
Vancouver’s first opportunity came in the seventh minute when Brian White’s shot after a centering pass from Simon Becher was stopped by Stuver in the bottom left corner.
Austin responded with a barrage in the 11th minute. Sebastian Driussi missed to the left after a corner kick and then Alex Ring clanged a shot off the left post on the ensuing corner-kick feed by Driussi. Emiliano Rigoni was turned away by Takaoka two minutes later after a feed into the box by Leo Vaisanen.
Austin’s Maxi Urruti had a chance in the 19th minutes after a pass into the area by Rigoni but his shot was saved by Takaoka. Vancouver replied with a scoring parry from Julian Gressel in the 21st minute but Stuver was again up to the task.
Owen Wolff of Austin, in the 34th minute, and Becher, in the 45th, each had shots on target by the end of the half but neither found the net.
Austin’s Diego Fagundez was stopped by Takaoka in the 50th minute and White had another shot batted away by Stuver two minutes later.
–Field Level Media
