Vancouver Whitecaps celebrate 50th anniversary

In front of the largest crowd ever in their Major League Soccer era during a momentous anniversary, the Vancouver Whitecaps settled for a moral victory.

"It's a fantastic performance," said coach Vanni Sartini after his team played to a 0-0 draw against Austin FC on Saturday at BC Place.

With 32,465 fans on hand for the Whitecaps' 50th anniversary, the club settled for a second straight draw to bring their record to 5-2-3 for the year.

Earlier this week, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim officially proclaimed May 4 as Whitecaps FC 50th Anniversary Day. The club was also recognized at the legislature by the British Columbia government.

More than 100 alumni from across the Whitecaps' five-decade history were welcomed to the pitch ahead of the opening kickoff.

While it has only been 13 years since the club was formed as an MLS franchise, its first iteration played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1974.

Happy 50th anniversary <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhitecapsFC</a>! In anticipation for the big celebration today, I was thrilled to proclaim May 4th as Whitecaps FC 50th Anniversary Day. <br><br>Cheers to the team that represents our city with pride. Here's to another 50 years of unforgettable moments on the pitch!… <a href="https://t.co/GGx8a7P741">pic.twitter.com/GGx8a7P741</a>

"I think it was just a team that the city really got behind," club legend Carl Valentine said of those early days. "We had some class players, some big stars — Alan Ball and Willie Johnston and stuff.

"But we really worked hard and I think that that's what Vancouver likes."

Valentine was a member of the team when they won the 1979 Soccer Bowl — at the time, it was Vancouver's first major sports title in a decade