By Marc Weber
Scoreless ties are not all created equal, and while goals continue to elude the Vancouver Whitecaps, at least fans can take hope out of Saturday's 0-0 league draw with the Montreal Impact.
The big game arrives Wednesday: Toronto FC in the Canadian championship; mathematically a must-tie and realistically a must-win.
Combine Toronto's recent good form with Vancouver's struggles, and there wasn't much reason to believe the Whitecaps could qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.
But Saturday's performance, while still lacking an end result, was cause for hope. The Whitecaps played with fire in their belly, looking confident and dangerous.
Their last goal came 259 game minutes ago, but if they continue to play like Saturday, the next won't be far off.
"We played very well in all aspects, except scoring goals," said coach Teitur Thordarson. "That's the best preparation for Wednesday."
Generating chances had been a bigger concern than a lack of finish heading in. But there was no lack of opportunity against the Impact.
Vancouver had seven corners to Montreal's two, as well as a handful of free kicks inside 40 yards.
Luca Bellisomo, for the second straight game, headed a ball off the post, this time redirecting Ricardo Sanchez's corner kick.
Sanchez, a central midfielder, was starting his first game as a Whitecap, the door opening with Martin Nash nursing a sore back and Jonny Steele out for personal reasons.
He almost opened the scoring in the 32nd minute but Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan dove to his left to just deflect away Sanchez's dipping free kick from 26 yards.
Three minutes later, Whitecaps' keeper Jay Nolly was also called on for a great save when Rocco Placentino turned Nelson Akwari in the box.
Nolly tipped the shot up and he was happy to see it glance off the bar.
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