The Columbus Crew have played such excellent defense during a five-game unbeaten run that a lack of scoring isn't too much of a concern.
The Crew's offense could have a chance for a breakthrough performance Saturday night against an expansion Vancouver Whitecaps club that's had some trouble keeping opponents out of the net.
Columbus is 2-0-3 over its last five and didn't allow a goal for a team-record 414 consecutive minutes until late in the first half last week at Toronto. The Crew (2-1-3) had that streak snapped in the 41st minute but benefited when Tony Tchani drew his second yellow card while celebrating the score. Emilio Renteria took advantage of a short-handed opponent to score the equalizer in the 49th minute and force a 1-all draw.
The goal was Columbus' fifth of the season, but Renteria said the team isn't feeling too much pressure to score.
"We are not going crazy about it because if we do, it will be worse," he told the Crew's official website. "Although we're not scoring too many goals, we are doing something else to help the team. We're getting shutouts and not letting the other teams possess the ball and giving them chances to score."
Robbie Rogers, who has a team-best two goals, noted the Crew had plenty of chances against Toronto.
"Our finishing needs to be better in front of the goal. That will relieve a lot of pressure and make the game easier for us," he said. "People try to talk about something. They have nothing to talk about, so they try to put the pressure on the offense."
The Crew could perhaps ease some concerns with a strong performance against the Whitecaps, who are 0-3-3 since winning their inaugural match. Vancouver is one of two teams to have scored 10 goals and given up at least 12.
The Whitecaps allowed two scores in the second half of last week's 2-1 home defeat to FC Dallas, including the tiebreaker in the 83rd minute.
"Obviously, we are very disappointed with the result," coach Teitur Thordarson said. "I was quite happy with the first half. ... I definitely felt in the second half we lost focus a little bit."
Thordarson's club won't have forwards Eric Hassli and Atiba Harris as it tries to record its first point on the road.
Hassli, tied for the team lead with three goals, picked up his fifth yellow card in last week's game and will serve an automatic one-game suspension. Harris, who has two goals and three assists, had surgery on his right knee Tuesday.
Vancouver will also likely play without its captain and U.S. national team defender Jay DeMerit (groin).
To try to make up for those losses, the Whitecaps signed midfielder Peter Vagenas, a 10-year MLS veteran who played seven matches for Seattle in 2010.
The Crew signed 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Santiago Prim after placing Danny O'Rourke on the disabled list. O'Rourke is expected to miss at least six games while continuing to recover from left knee surgery.
