Houston Dynamo FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS Regular Season - Week 6 - Match 7
Saturday, May 22, 2021 - 6:11 p.m. PT
BBVA Stadium, Houston, TX
TV: TSN1/4 - RADIO: AM730 (Pre-match show: 5 p.m. PT)
CHANGE IN CLIMATE: Training out of the high-altitude Salt Lake City area for seven weeks now, Whitecaps FC travel to Houston for the first of three meetings with the Dynamo this season, including two visits to BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo are undefeated in three home games so far (2W-0L-1D) but the 'Caps land in Houston knowing they can secure road points in similar hot and humid conditions. Vancouver earned a result against Toronto FC in Orlando, FL back in Week 2. Canadian internationals Lucas Cavallini, Maxime Crepeau, and Cristian Gutierrez also spent time with the national team in Florida last March. The 'Caps are coming off last week's match at Sporting Kansas City that saw thunderstorms before kickoff.
KEY CONNECTIONS: Few people are as familiar with Houston Dynamo FC as first-year 'Caps assistant coach Ricardo Clark. He played for the Dynamo from 2006 to 2009, and 2012 to 2017, and served as their U-19 interim head coach last year, winning the MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007. During his time in Houston, Clark was named an All-Star each year from 2006 to 2008, including an MLS Best XI selection in 2006. He sits second all-time in games played (304) and games started (286) for the Dynamo. On the other side, centre back Tim Parker played for Whitecaps FC from 2015 to 2017, recording 79 starts in 81 MLS appearances including playoffs, tallying a goal and two assists. Parker is one of four trade acquisitions over the offseason playing major minutes for Houston, as second-year Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos continues to mold his roster.
COLOMBIAN DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Whitecaps FC will likely look to Deiber Caicedo and Cristian Dajome to generate chances against an organized Dynamo side that likes to field a standard 4-3-3 formation on defence. The Colombian duo are among the top three 'Caps players in total shots, shots on goal, and chances created. Their fellow countryman Darwin Quintero, the Dynamo's Designated Player at the forward position and their leading goalscorer in 2020, has largely been coming off the bench this season. Houston have found the net in each of their six games so far, while the 'Caps already have two clean sheets in the young season. Argentine centre back Erik Godoy made his first appearance last week after sitting out the first five matches due to a right calf strain.
BEFORE THE BREAK: The 'Caps hope to get back in the win column before a four-week break. The pause in action includes a FIFA international break from May 31 to June 14, featuring a pair of World Cup qualifying matches for the Canadian men's national team.
AVAILABILITY REPORT
Injured
Bruno Gaspar: Questionable - general knee irritation suffered at training on May 15, return to match status is day-to-day
Jake Nerwinski: Questionable - right knee tibiofibular sprain suffered in the second half at SKC on May 16, return to match status is day-to-day
Andy Rose: Questionable - adductor strain suffered in the first half at MNUFC on May 12, return to match status is day-to-day
International duty
Ali Adnan: Iraq men's national team
CONNECTIONS WITH HOUSTON DYNAMO FC
Formerly with Houston Dynamo FC
Assistant coach Ricardo Clark ('06-'09, '12-'17 as player, '20 as U-19 interim head coach)
- MLS Cup winner in '06 and '07
- MLS All-Star from '06 to '08
- MLS Best XI selection in '06
- 304 GP, 286 GS (second all-time in club history)
Evan Newton ('11): Did not play for HOU after being selected in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft. He spent May to October of that year on loan to NASL club FC Tampa Bay.
Formerly with Whitecaps FC
Tim Parker (’15-’17)
- MLS: 81 GP, 79 GS, 1 G, 2 A including playoffs
Former teammates
Maxime Crepeau ('13) and goalkeeper coach Youssef Dahha ('12-'13) with Zaren Valentin at MTL
Head coach Marc Dos Santos, then an assistant, with Christian Ramirez at LAFC ('18)
Canada
Tyler Pasher is from Elmira, Ontario. In 2016, he played under Marc Dos Santos at Swope Park Rangers. He played at Indy Eleven from 2018 to 2020. In 2018, he played under Phil Dos Santos, who served as assistant coach. From 2019 to 2020, he played with Evan Newton.
Argentina
Érik Godoy, and HOU's Mateo Bajamich, Tomás Martínez, and Maximiliano Urruti are fellow Argentines.
Chile
Cristian Gutierrez (born in Canada) and HOU's José Bizama grew up in Chile.
Colombia
Deiber Caicedo and Cristian Dajome, and HOU's Darwin Quintero are fellow Colombians.
England
Andy Rose and HOU goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers hail from England.
Brooklyn Nets
VAN co-owner Steve Nash coaches HOU co-owner James Harden in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets.
MATCHDAY MEALS
Get 15% off orders of $12+ from Matchday Meals restaurants in Vancouver. Order a meal of $12 or more from a participating merchant in Vancouver and use the promo code ‘MATCHDAY15’ to receive 15% off. Click here for details.
FRIES 4 FANS
Free fries on matchday! To redeem your free fries, simply download the A&W app, add your fries and at least one more item to your cart, and then enter the code WHITECAPS at checkout. Click here for details.
