Whitecaps, Austin FC settle for scoreless draw

Brad Stuver made seven saves and recorded his third consecutive shutout as Austin FC played the host Vancouver Whitecaps to a scoreless tie on Saturday night.

The action was near Stuver for most of the night as Vancouver had a 22-4 advantage in shots. The Whitecaps placed just seven on target, while Austin put only one on net.

Austin FC (4-3-4, 16 points) is 4-1-1 over its past six matches.

Vancouver (5-2-3, 18 points) is 3-1-2 over its past six outings.

Neither team had a quality chance during the two minutes of second-half stoppage time.

Yohei Takaoka made one save for the Whitecaps, who are 4-1-2 all time against Austin.

Vancouver had opportunities on headers.

In the 58th minute, Fafa Picault's diving header was just wide left of the net. Ryan Raposo also attempted a header 14 minutes later but Stuver made the save.

In the 77th minute, Ryan Gauld sent a blistering left-footed shot wide left of the net.

Takaoka's lone save came in the 10th minute when he stopped Diego Rubio's right-footed shot.

The Whitecaps had a goal disallowed in the first half.

Gauld tipped a cross with his head and it caromed off Picault and back to Gauld, who sent a left-footer into the net in the 19th minute.

But the goal was reviewed and replays showed that the ball hit Picault's left arm and he was ruled for a hand ball.

The contest was the 50th-anniversary celebration match of soccer in Vancouver.

The original Whitecaps were part of the North American Soccer League in 1974 and there were other editions of Vancouver teams prior to the current Whitecaps, who began MLS play in 2011.