In front of the largest crowd ever in their MLS era, the Vancouver Whitecaps settled for a moral victory.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a fantastic performance,B次元官网网址� said coach Vanni Sartini after his team played to a 0-0 draw against Austin FC on Saturday at BC Place.

With 32,465 fans on hand for the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� 50th anniversary, the club settled for a second straight draw to bring their record to 5-2-3 on the year. Vancouver snapped a two-game winning streak for Austin (4-3-4), which held its opponent scoreless for the third straight game.

The Whitecaps recorded a season-high 22 shot attempts, including seven on goal.

B次元官网网址淥nly the finalization was missing,B次元官网网址� Sartini said. B次元官网网址淎nd if we had a little luck, it probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be a tie game here.B次元官网网址�

Averaging two goals a game heading into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 match and with striker Brian White riding a four-game goal-scoring streak, itB次元官网网址檚 the first time in MLS play this season that the Whitecaps were held off the scoreboard.

The fans roared early on, when captain Ryan Gauld beat Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the 19th minute. But the goal was called back following a video replay after a hand ball was identified before the shot.

With the Whitecaps pressing just before halftime, the officials went back to the replay to check a possible penalty by Alex Ring on Fafa Picault inside the box. Ultimately, it was determined that no penalty kick would be awarded.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think we should talk about the VAR decisions because that was out of our control,B次元官网网址� Sartini said.

Gauld hadnB次元官网网址檛 seen a clear replay before he spoke to the media after the game. Watching the replay of the potential penalty on the big screen in real time, he said, B次元官网网址淚t could have went both ways. But, unfortunately, not to be.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps also lost midfielder Sam Adekugbe to a left calf injury in the 38th minute. The team played down a man for five minutes before Ryan Raposo subbed in.

Sartini did not have an update on Adekugbe after the game.

Tempers also flared before halftime. Picault and Austin defender Guilherme Biro were both shown yellow cards for poor sportsmanship after the penalty non-call, and a skirmish ensued between the two sides as they headed to their locker rooms, leading to a yellow card for Austin captain Sebastian Driussi.

White was also cautioned in the 46th minute after a foul on Jhojan Valencia.

All told, the Whitecaps controlled 62.2 per cent of the possession in the game.

Sartini was proud that his club didnB次元官网网址檛 abandon its defensive structure.

B次元官网网址淭he Whitecaps of 2023 lose this game,B次元官网网址� Sartini said. B次元官网网址漌e didnB次元官网网址檛 allow them to have any dangerous moments against us.B次元官网网址�

In the second half, a diving Stuver got a hand on a point-blank shot by Raposo in the 52nd minute, then Alessandro Schopf fired the rebound just wide.

In the 77th minute, Gauld danced to the top of the box, but fired just over the net. Then in stoppage time, Stuver pulled down a loose ball from a crowd just in front of the goal line.

B次元官网网址淚t was a big night for the club,B次元官网网址� said Gauld. B次元官网网址淎 big milestone, so we knew that the fans would turn up. They pushed us on as we would expect, but unfortunately we just couldnB次元官网网址檛 send everyone home happy.B次元官网网址�

NOTES: Earlier this week, Vancouver mayor Ken Sim officially proclaimed May 4 as Whitecaps FC 50th Anniversary Day. The club was also recognized at the Legislature by the Province of British Columbia. More than 100 alumni from across the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� five-decade history were welcomed to the pitch ahead of the opening kickoff.

UP NEXT: As part of an eight-game schedule in May, the Whitecaps will hit the road next week. TheyB次元官网网址檒l begin their defence of the Canadian Championship against Cavalry FC on Tuesday, then return to MLS action next Saturday against LAFC.

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Carol Schram, The Canadian Press