INDIO, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC played to a scoreless draw against USL Championship side Orange County SC on Wednesday afternoon in a preseason friendly in Coachella Valley, California.
Inside the first 20 minutes, Yohei Takaoka made two saves to keep the match level.
Shortly after, Sebastian Berhalter sent Fafa Picault in behind the Orange County backline. The Haitian international sent a low ball across the box that almost found Damir Kreilach at the back post.
The 'Caps would conjure another good chance in the 35th minute. Ryan Gauld played a ball down the line to Ryan Raposo, who found Picault at the back post and saw his headed effort go narrowly wide of goal.
Fast forward to the start of the second half, Ranko Veselinović got on the end of another Raposo cross and headed the ball down to substitute Levonte Johnson. The Canadian took a touch and forced a key save from the Orange County goalkeeper.
Orange County's best chance of the match came in the 74th minute, as Ethan Zubak found himself in on goal but was denied by a stunning save from Takaoka.
The 'Caps would have two more chances in the final minutes, with Johnson and Jay Herdman coming close, but the match would end scoreless.
The Blue and White will now head back to Vancouver to prepare for their MLS season opener, presented by TELUS, as they host Eastern Conference side Charlotte FC at BC Place on Saturday, March 2. Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m. PT, the upper bowl will be open, and more than 25,000 tickets have already been sold. For ticket information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Scoring Summary
N/A
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown (12.Belal Halbouni 62’), 4.Ranko Veselinović, 6.Tristan Blackmon (2.Mathías Laborda HT); 16.Sebastian Berhalter, 8.Alessandro Schöpf (97.Liam Mackenzie 62’), 20.Andrés Cubas (26.J.C. Ngando HT), 7.Ryan Raposo (41.Eliot Goldthorp 62’); 25.Ryan Gauld ©️ (92.Jay Herdman 62’); 11.Fafà Picault (52.Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau 62’), 19.Damir Kreilach (28.Levonte Johnson HT)
Substitutes not used
17.Joe Bendik, 32.Isaac Boehmer
