Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson suggested in the leadup to Sunday that the first leg of the Western Conference semifinal with the Seattle Sounders might be a chess match.

It turns out he was spot on.

Vancouver and Seattle combined for just one shot on target in a scoreless draw where both teams were content to play cautiously and avoid the big mistake at B.C Place Stadium.

B次元官网网址淚t was important we didnB次元官网网址檛 concede,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址漈hat was the mindset.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver, which missed Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 playoffs by eight points last season, and Seattle, winners of the 2016 MLS Cup, will tangle in the second leg of the two-game aggregate series on Thursday at CenturyLink Field.

A tie with scoring in Seattle will be enough for the Whitecaps to advance on the away goals rule, while another 0-0 draw would mean extra time. A Sounders victory by any margin will see them move on.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 want to give anything away in the home leg,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址漈he football wasnB次元官网网址檛 brilliant. I thought we possessed the ball very well in the first half without creating shot after shot, but they didnB次元官网网址檛 have anything either.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps, who finished third in the West standings, were coming off the clubB次元官网网址檚 first-ever playoff victory B次元官网网址� a 5-0 demolition of the San Jose Earthquakes in WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 single-elimination knockout round.

The Sounders, meanwhile, won three of their last four to close out the schedule, including a 3-0 home decision over Vancouver on Sept. 27, to grab second in the conference and secure a bye to the semis.

B次元官网网址淚 actually wish we would have pressed the issue a little bit more,B次元官网网址� said Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer. B次元官网网址漋ancouverB次元官网网址檚 too good of a team for us to just sit in and defend.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps had to make two big changes to the starting lineup that thumped the Earthquakes, with crucial offensive pieces Yordy Reyna and Cristian Techera forced to the bench after picking up injuries against San Jose.

B次元官网网址淚 would have played the same team (as Wednesday) if those guys were fit,B次元官网网址� said Robinson. B次元官网网址滲ut they werenB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�

Brek Shea and Nosa Igiebor, who only signed last month and made his second appearance, slotted into midfield alongside Christian Bolanos in support of striker Fredy Montero.

The Sounders were without leading scorer Clint Dempsey after he was red carded in the clubB次元官网网址檚 regular-season finale.

Seattle defender Chad Marshall rose to head the matchB次元官网网址檚 one and only shot on target in the 48th minute, but Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic was there to make a comfortable save.

Reyna subbed on in the 62nd minute to raucous applause before Techera joined the fray in the 76th, but their introductions did little to add any more attacking flair to a game that seemed destined to end 0-0 from the early stages.

B次元官网网址淭onight was a bit of a mess,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver right back Jake Nerwinski. B次元官网网址淲e can get a little bit more going forward next match. We didnB次元官网网址檛 really have that much.B次元官网网址�

Things got heated in the 83rd minute with the Whitecaps clearly annoyed at what they viewed as time wasting by the Sounders, with Vancouver captain Kendall Waston in the middle of it.

RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 team has feasted on getting offence from set pieces this season, and the Welshman felt his team wasnB次元官网网址檛 given as many opportunities as it deserved from referee Kevin Stott.

B次元官网网址淚 thought he missed four or five clear (fouls),B次元官网网址� said Robinson, who also got into a shouting match with Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro. B次元官网网址�(Free kicks) are ammunition for us.B次元官网网址�

Seattle had the only real opportunity at a breakthrough in the 35th minute when Joevin Jones got in behind Nerwinski and fed a dangerous low cross that Waston rattled off his own crossbar on an attempted clearance for what was nearly a demoralizing own goal.

B次元官网网址�(Waston) saved me. I got beat,B次元官网网址� said Nerwinski. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 see it until it hit the bar. I heard it. IB次元官网网址檓 thankful it didnB次元官网网址檛 go in.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps, who wound up a point behind Seattle in the standings, opened most of B.C. PlaceB次元官网网址檚 lower bowl, which pushed attendance to 27,837 and created an electric atmosphere that was helped by a strong contingent travelling Sounders supporters, who will be in full voice back home on Thursday night.

B次元官网网址淚n front of their fans B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a lot of pressure for us,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver left back Marcel de Jong. B次元官网网址淚 like those moments, big games. ItB次元官网网址檚 good for us.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nowhere to hide.B次元官网网址�

Notes: Dempsey is eligible to return for the second leg. B次元官网网址� The Portland Timbers, ranked No. 1 in the West, visit the No. 4 Houston Dynamo in the first leg of the other conference semifinal on Monday.

B次元官网网址�-

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Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press