Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka stood tall in recording five stops, including the game-saver in the 83rd minute, as the Whitecaps held on for a scoreless draw with host Austin FC on Saturday in a Western Conference match.
The contest was played in the sweltering heat as the Whitecaps (8-1-4, 28 points) extended their MLS streak without a loss to eight matches. Austin, meanwhile, has played five straight matches without a victory but at least spilt the points with Vancouver, which sits atop the West standings.
The clean sheet was Takaoka's sixth of the season. Austin FC keeper Brad Stuver was also solid, stopping two shots to earn his sixth shutout of the year.
The Verde (5-6-3, 18 points) produced all three shots on goal in the first half but had nothing to show for it.
Osman Bukari had a scoring chance in the third minute of the match that was easily gobbled up by Takaoka. Bukari tested Takaoka again in the 28th minute, taking dead aim at the goal with his head after a corner kick from Owen Wolff, but Takaoka batted away the shot.
Brandon Vazquez tried Takaoka in the 43rd minute with another header after a corner from Wolff that was saved by the Whitecaps' goalkeeper.
Austin kept on the attack after the break, with Besard Sabovic ripping a right-footed shot off Takaoka in the 48th minute after yet another corner kick from Wolff.
The Whitecaps finally got a shot on target in the 73rd minute when Brian White, who started the weekend tied for the MLS lead in goals scored (eight), was stopped by Stuver on a low-percentage attempt. Sebastian Berhalter then gave it a go in the 78th minute but the shot was easily snatched up by the Austin keeper.
Bukari had his third -- and perhaps his best -- chance in the 83rd minute, but Takaoka made the save and put his final stamp on the draw.
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