SANDY, Utah—Seven games into the 2016 season, the Vancouver Whitecaps are still searching for their first goal in the run of play.
They came close to finding one in the first half against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, when forward Octavio Rivero's shot skipped just wide of the far post in the fifth minute. A goal-line, empty-net block from RSL defenderAaron Maund a few minutes later and a litany of Nick Rimando saves left Vancouver wondering just what they had to do to find the back of the net.
“I'm not sure at the moment,” said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. “If you find the answer, please let me know.”
It's the third straight game in which VWFC have been kept off the scoresheet.
“Unfortunately, it comes back to bite you in the bum when you miss chance after chance after chance,” Robinson said.
At least Saturday wasn’t a repeat of the previous week’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of D.C. United. Vancouver showed effort and created chances, but again didn’t find the net.
“[RSL] pick up the three points and we go home with nothing,” Robinson said. “But, I was proud of the performance today because I wanted a response from them and they certainly gave me a response.”
On the stat sheet, it was an even game. The teams’ mindsets may have been different, as Vancouver didn’t capitalize on their early chances, allowing RSL to clamber into the ascendancy and eventually find the game-winner in the 55th minute.
“I said to them just to keep going, and we did keep going," Robinson said. "We know the first goal of any MLS game is crucial, and it was crucial [tonight]. And unfortunately we didn't get it and they did. We've just got to go again.”
There wasn’t too much for the Whitecaps to quibble with on the field; they spurned ample chances to score an equalizer. The night was disappointing, if only for what didn’t happen instead of what did.
“It's disappointing because I think we deserved something out of the game,” Robinson said. “But football is disappointing sometimes.”
