VANCOUVER — David Ousted has watched helplessly at the other end of the pitch as the Vancouver Whitecaps have squandered chance after chance this season.
All the veteran goalkeeper says he can do is keep the faith and implore his teammates to do the same in hopes the struggling Major League Soccer club will eventually find the target.
"There's no magic formula, there's no magic concoction," said Ousted. "We just have to work hard.
"I believe we're going to get those goals because the hard work is there."
The Whitecaps have been shut out in three straight games, including back-to-back losses, and have just six goals through seven matches this season, with none coming from open play.
Vancouver (2-4-1) again had a number of opportunities in last weekend's 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake, but instead continued to fire blanks.
"The game is about goals," said Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson. "The game is about putting the ball in the back of the net and that's what we're not doing at the moment."
No individual epitomizes Vancouver's woes more than striker Octavio Rivero.
The designated player from Uruguay scored five times in his first six MLS games last year, but has been on a dreadful run since.
Rivero has a single goal from open play since May 9, 2015, a stretch of 29 regular-season games and two playoff contests, including 27 starts.
Put differently, that's a stretch of 2,475 minutes.
"It's easy to point at one guy, point at one thing," said Ousted. "As a team we need to step up and be better."
The 24-year-old Rivero last scored a goal of any kind on Sept. 9 — a barren stretch of 13 starts and one substitute appearance. With three games in a week beginning Saturday at home against high-flying FC Dallas, Robinson will be looking for a combination that works up front, with or without Rivero.
"We have to find solutions to try and win games," said the coach. "Whoever takes their chance will be in pole position."
At least outwardly, Robinson is keeping a positive outlook on his goal-starved squad that has struggled to score during most of his two-plus seasons on the job.
"People ask me whether I'm frustrated. No, I'm not frustrated," said the Welshman. "Am I disappointed? Yeah a little bit. I'm not frustrated.
"I think frustrated is the wrong word, but it makes me keener to work harder."
Dallas (5-1-2) comes into B.C. Place Stadium unbeaten in six games and at the top of the overall standings with 17 points. The club is led offensively by midfielder/forward Michael Barrios, while midfielder Mauro Diaz looks set to return after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury.
"They're in form," said Robinson. "It's a game probably we need at the moment."
And while there isn't any need for extra motivation given the Whitecaps' current predicament as they get set to meet a heated rival, there's the subplot of Vancouver striker Blas Perez facing his former team for the first time.
The 35-year-old Panamanian was dealt to the Whitecaps in the off-season after four years in Texas, and is among the players Vancouver will be looking to for an offensive spark.
"This is Dallas. I don't think anything needed to be added, but it has been with Blas," said Ousted. "We want to help Blas against his old team, we want to help ourselves."
Notes: Vancouver captain Pedro Morales — who has scored four of his team's six goals this season, all from the penalty spot — is set to miss a third straight game with a hip injury. ... Dallas will be without captain Matt Hedges after he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The defender could miss six weeks. ... The Whitecaps host Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday before visiting New York City FC on April 30.
