Whitecaps battle to 0-0 MLS draw with New England
A win would have been better but for goalkeeper Cody Cropper helping the Vancouver Whitecaps battle to a 0-0 Major League Soccer draw with the New England Revolution Sunday afternoon was a personal victory.
Cropper spent four seasons with New England before leaving the team in 2019.
“Going into this week was emotionally a very big one,” said Cropper, who has a 7-1-2 record in all competitions this year for Vancouver. “I had some tough times with the Revs for various reasons.
“I went into this week with my head locked in. I wanted a clean sheet. I wanted three points, but I'll take a clean sheet. They are one of the best offences in the league. They create a lot of opportunities. I think together as a team we did very well in shutting them down.”
The Whitecaps had their chances to score but couldn't beat New England goaltender Djordje Petrovic in the game, played before 15,084 fans at BC Place Stadium.
In the game's dying minutes the Whitecaps buzzed like angry bees around the Revolution net. Striker Lucas Cavallini slammed his hand into the net after missing on a chance from the side of the goal.
Early in the second half midfielder Leonard Owusu tested Petrovic with a right-footed shot from the top of the box. Later both striker Cristian Dajome and midfielder Marcus Godinho forced Petrovic to make saves.
Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini was pleased with the pressure his team put on the Revolution.
“I think we were the best team on the field,” he said. “We created chances. We were in control. Unfortunately, we didn't score and if you don't score you don't win.”
The game also showed his club's growth. It was the kind of match the Whitecaps might have lost earlier in the year on a late goal.
“I'm proud and I'm happy how the team performed,” Sartini said. “A game like this, when you don't score it's easy to lose.”
A win would have moved the Whitecaps (6-8-3) into a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Instead Vancouver and Houston are tied with 21 points, two points back of Seattle for the final playoff berth.
It sets up a big match on July 2 when Vancouver hosts Los Angeles FC, the team with the best record in MLS.
The Whitecaps are 5-2-2 in their last eight MLS games and 4-1-3 at BC Place Stadium.
The draw extended New England's MLS unbeaten streak to nine games (4-0-5). The Revolution (6-5-6) are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 24 points.
New England head coach Bruce Arena said his team missed some chances.
“We had some decent opportunities where we just didn't hit the target,” he said. “You're not going to score goals if you don't hit the target. It's a point on the road. It's not the worst.”
Vancouver signed Cropper as a backup but he took over the starting role when Thomas Hasal suffered a fractured finger.
“I'm controlling what I can control,” Cropper said about his play. “I can only do what I can do. I don't try and be anything that I'm not. I think collectively right now we're all on the same page. We're very connected right now. We're executing on all fronts.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2022
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.