:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49223899/usa-today-9225824.0.jpg)
The LA Galaxy were unable to breach an unlucky 10-man Whitecaps team, settling for a scoreless draw Saturday night in downtown Vancouver.
#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe; Rogers, Steres, Van Damme, Cole; Boateng, De Jong, Husidic, Magee; Lletget, Lassiter #VANvLA pic.twitter.com/YydcvYFt5C
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 3, 2016
Ariel Lassiter earned his first career start as LA put out an shorthanded lineup missing Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard, while Gyasi Zardes began on the bench.
LA had a valuable opportunity early when Mike Magee played a short free kick to Sebastian Lletget and his low cross found Van Damme at the far post from point-blank range, but he lost concentration and the shot hit the side netting.
Just 28 minutes into the match, the Whitecaps, who had already lost playmaker Pedro Morales earlier due to injuiry, suffered further misery when midfielder Matias Laba was issued a straight red card for a violent tackle on Mike Magee. (If that weren't enough, Kekuta Manneh soon limped off with his own knock)
However despite some tidy possession, a real lack of creativity in the lineup crippled the Galaxy's ability to create much of anything in the final third. In fact, it was Brian Rowe who stood out for LA, making two key first half saves and commanding his area with decisive, confident goalkeeping.
Get Rowe. https://t.co/Ioo2UB7s17 #VANvLA pic.twitter.com/OuM0of3HEA
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 3, 2016
Brian to the Rowe-scue. https://t.co/Ioo2UB7s17 #VANvLA pic.twitter.com/gt8I8xwfYE
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 3, 2016
In the 34th minute, Mike Magee chipped a cross to Sebastian Lletget in a dangerous position inside the area, but goalkeeper David Ousted anticipated the flick and bundled the attempt.
The second half wasn't much better for LA. Ari Lassiter had an early half chance and Zardes was unlucky late on to not put away an open attempt from close range, but overall the attack was toothless, even with a man advantage for a majority of the match.
Two minutes into injury time, Alan Gordon got free on a corner kick inside the area and hit a spinning header this close to the left corner of the net, but the attempt was just wide.
The Galaxy head back to the StubHub Center to battle the Portland Timbers next Sunday.