Vancouver Whitecaps ended their 2012 MLS regular season with a scoreless draw against Real Salt Lake in Utah tonight.
The draw will at least give the Caps a little confidence as they face their first MLS playoff game next week, but they will need to put in a more creative performance to try and get anything from the game against the Galaxy.
The point also secures the number one seeding in next season's Voyageurs Cup and a favourable two legged semi final tie against FC Edmonton.
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Disappointed by last week's lacklustre performance against Portland, Martin Rennie rang some major changes dropping Camilo Sanvezzo and both Designated Players, Barry Robson and Kenny Miller, to the bench.
Rennie seemed keen to get back to the basics that produced a winning first half of the season, with a more defensive line up looking to play tight and use the pace of Darren Mattocks and Dane Richards to hit on quick breakaways.
The plan worked to an extent, in what was a somewhat effective, if somewhat unspectacular and uninspired, performance which still lacked creativity and service from a midfield that was posted missing for most of the game.
Whether what he saw tonight was enough to maintain this line up against Los Angeles on Thursday is now the burning question. You have to think not.
It wasn't exactly a performance to set hearts a fluttering, but if the Caps want to try and grind their way through to a penalty shoot out, then they put in some good practice.
Salt Lake had the first real shot of goal when Alvaro Saborio drilled a low long range effort wide of the left hand post in the sixth minute.
Vancouver were happy to sit back and try and hit on the break, but these opportunities were quickly shut down and the home side looked the more dangerous.
Brad Knighton had to be quick off his line to collect a Jonny Steele cross in the 16th minute, with Saborio coming in at the back post.
The Whitecaps quickly broke up field and Dane Richards showed the danger that the speedy Caps attack poses for any defence, as he twisted and turned in the box before firing a shot into the side netting.
Darren Mattocks' pace caused Kwame Watson-Siriboe to give away a free kick in the 28th minute, but RSL keeper Kyle Reynish was untroubled as Alain Rochat shot past the left hand post.
Mattocks won another free kick eight minutes later and this time Rochat did manage his shot on target, but it was an easy save for Reynish.
Real responded by going immediately up the field and forced Knighton to tip over a Saborio shot, after the Costa Rican had got in behind Andy O'Brien.
The game was threatening to burst into life, with both teams getting a bit fired up, and Kenny Mansally had the last real action of the half when he fired wildly over in the last minute of regulation.
Unfortunately the second half started in pedestrian fashion, with neither side showing much urgency or effort.
Mattocks had the ball in the net in the 57th minute, rising well to head home a Rochat free kick from the right, but referee Baldomero Toledo ruled it out for offside.
The home side turned up a little bit of pressure at the hour mark approached and after a couple of squandered opportunities, the ball came to Fabian Espindola who headed over.
The game fell back into a bit of a lull, but Luis Gil forced an easy save out of Knighton in the 69th minute with a low drive.
The Jamaicans made way for the Scots as the second half ticked by and Barry Robson nearly made the difference in the 82nd minute when he sent a great free kick into the box but O'Brien just couldn't get on the end of it.
Robson again delivered a dangerous cross into box in the 89th minute, this time a corner. Gershon Koffie rose well but headed into the side netting.
Real were still looking for the full three points and nearly got it seconds later when substitute Sebastian Velasquez fought strongly to get past Y-P Lee on the touchline and sent a dangerous ball in to Saborio, but his close range shot ricocheted off Jay DeMerit for a corner.
Vancouver were happy to see out the three minutes of stoppage time and they did so with ease to earn what was a vital away point.
Voyageurs Cup seeding aside, the draw tonight will at least give the Caps camp a little confidence as they head to LA.
They've reminded themselves that they can compete with one of the best, albeit weakened, teams in the West.
The Galaxy now pose a completely different and more difficult proposition. It won't be easy and the Whitecaps really need to step up their game, from what they've shown for weeks now. In particular a midfield needs to turn up.
To quote Dostoevsky - "to live without hope is to cease to live".
It's a one off Cup tie and, in theory, anything can happen and you have to have hope. In reality though....
FINAL SCORE: Real Salt Lake 0 - 0 Vancouver Whitecaps
ATT: 20,507
SALT LAKE: Kyle Reynish; Tony Beltran, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Chris Wingert, Kenny Mansally (Will Johnson 78); Kyle Beckerman, Ned Grabavoy (Sebastian Velasquez 63), Jonny Steele, Luis Gil (David Viana 71); Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola [subs Not Used: Nick Rimando, Paulo Jr, Yordany Alvarez, Enzo Martinez]
VANCOUVER: Brad Knighton; Young-Pyo Lee, Andy O’Brien, Jay DeMerit, Jordan Harvey; Alain Rochat, John Thorrington, Matt Watson, Gershon Koffie; Dane Richards (Kenny Miller 78), Darren Mattocks (Barry Robson 71) [subs Not Used: Joe Cannon, Martin Bonjour, Jun Marques Davidson, Russell Teibert, Camilo Sanvezzo]
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