- With two goals and an assist, Fafa Picault now has six goal contributions (4 goals, 2 assists) in the past three matches. He has 12 goal contributions on the season (8 goals, 4 assists)
- Whitecaps FC have three players with 10 or more goals contributions in MLS play with Picault's 12, MLS All-Star Ryan Gauld with 18 (9 goals, 9 assists), and Brian White with 14 (12 goals, 2 assists)
- Ranko Veselinović scored his second goal of the MLS season and his fourth goal contribution (2 goals, 2 assists)
- Sebastian Berhalter recorded an assist for a second straight match. He now has six goal contributions on the season (2 goals, 4 assists)
- Alessandro Schöpf recorded his second assist and third goal contribution (1 goal, 2 assists) of the season
- Sam Adekugbe recorded his second assist of the season
VANCOUVER, BC – It was a wild night at BC Place on Saturday, as Vancouver Whitecaps FC fell to Houston Dynamo in a highly-entertaining 4-3 match.
Houston struck first inside the first half-hour, through Adalberto Carrasquilla. Ibrahim Aliyu found Carrasquilla inside the box and the Panamanian fired a snapshot towards goal, getting a fortunate deflection on the way to get past Takaoka for 1-0.
The 'Caps were dealt a further blow when captain Ryan Gauld was forced to leave the match with a knee injury immediately following the Houston goal.
The Dynamo made it 2-0 not long later, with Griffin Dorsey taking advantage of a deflected pass to side foot a curling effort past Takaoka to double their advantage.
Fafa Picault then began to take over the match.
First, Picault sprinted down the left side before cutting in, dancing past two challenges and placing a shot into the far corner only to be denied by an outstretched hand from Clark. Picault then saw a free kick effort just curl wide of the near corner in another good opportunity for the ‘Caps.
Pedro Vite tried his luck from a free kick spot right before halftime, but saw his whipped shot sail past the far post as the referee blew his whistle for the break.
The 'Caps came out for the second half with full belief, putting Houston under immediate pressure. That bore instant rewards as Picault scored inside three minutes of the second half. Ryan Raposo, on as a substitute for Gauld, put a cross in that took a big deflection, falling perfectly for Picault to head it in from close-range to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Not to be outdone by the Dynamo in the first half, the ‘Caps scored two in quick succession as well, with Ranko Veselinović equalizing in the 54th minute. A Sebastian Berhalter cross found Picault at the back post, and after deftly taking it down, the Haitian international crossed the ball to put it on a plate for Veselinović to head home and equalize, 2-2.
The momentum continued as Whitecaps FC pulled ahead in the 66th minute thanks to the man of the moment, Picault. Alessandro Schöpf found Sam Adekugbe, fresh off the bench, on the left. Adekugbe then drilled a cross towards the back post for Picault to sweep home for the 3-2 lead.
The 'Caps thought they would have an opportuinity to extend their lead with just 15 minutes remaining, as the VAR recommended a check for a penalty kick from a tackle on Picault in the box. However, after review, referee Fotis Bazakos determined that there was no foul on the play.
Moments later, the match would change course again. The visitors replied through Brad Smith. The substitute burst down the left side and thumped the ball into the back of the net to equalize it for the Dynamo, 3-3.
The pendulum swung one more time, as the Dynamo took the lead for the second time this match, once again courtesy of Dorsey in the 87th minute. After pinballing inside the ‘Caps’ box, the ball fell to Dorsey on the edge. The right back made no mistake as he thrashed it into the roof of the net to make the score 4-3 for Houston.
Whitecaps FC continued to pile pressure forward at the end, even throwing Takaoka into the mix on set-pieces, but they would come up just short in a seven-goal thriller.
Whitecaps FC are back in action in an international friendly match against Wrexham A.F.C next Saturday, July 27 at BC Place. Kickoff will be at 4:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.ca.
The 'Caps will then begin play in the Leagues Cup. First will be an away match at Los Angeles FC on Tuesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. PT. That match will be live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Whitecaps FC will then return home to wrap-up West 7 group play in the Leagues Cup, as they host Mexican side Club Tijuana on Saturday, August 3 at BC Place. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. PT.
Whitecaps FC will return to MLS action on Saturday, August 24 versus LAFC, with the upper bowl open. For tickets to Whitecaps FC home matches, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
VWFC GE Appliances Player of Quality: Fafa Picault
Attendance: 24,114
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Scoring Summary
29’ – HOU – Adalberto Carrasquilla (Ibrahim Aliyu)
36’ – HOU – Griffin Dorsey
48’ – VAN – Fafa Picault
54’ – VAN – Ranko Veselinović (Fafa Picault, Sebastian Berhalter)
66’ – VAN – Fafa Picault (Sam Adekugbe, Alessandro Schöpf)
78’ – HOU – Brad Smith (Sebastian Kowalczyk)
87’ – HOU – Grifin Dorsey
Statistics
Possession: VAN 44.5% - HOU 55.5%
Shots: VAN 15 - HOU 16
Shots on Goal: VAN 6 - HOU 6
Saves: VAN 2 - HOU 3
Fouls: VAN 7 - HOU 16
Offsides: VAN 0 - HOU 2
Corners: VAN 4 - HOU 1
Cautions
20’ – HOU – Artur
45’+3 – VAN – Andrés Cubas
76’ – HOU – Franco Escobar
90’+3 – HOU – Brad Smith
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Yohei Takaoka; 15.Bjørn Inge Utvik, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 14.Luis Martins (8.Alessandro Schöpf HT); 22.Ali Ahmed, 45.Pedro Vite (28.Levonte Johnson 90’), 20.Andrés Cubas (3.Sam Adekugbe 60’), 16.Sebastian Berhalter (19.Damir Kreilach 90’); 25.Ryan Gauld (7.Ryan Raposo 30’), 24.Brian White, 11.Fafa Picault
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 12.Belal Halbouni, 13.Ralph Priso, 27.Giuseppe Bovalina
Houston Dynamo FC
12.Steve Clark; 25.Griffin Dorsey (5.Daniel Steres 90’+4), 28.Erik Sviatchenko, 31.Micael, 2.Franco Escobar; 20.Adalberto Carrasquilla (15.Latif Blessing 83’), 16.Héctor Herrera, 6.Artur; 8.Amine Bassi (27. Sebastian Kowalczyk 69’), 10.Ezequiel Ponce (11.Sebastian Ferreira HT), 18.Aliyu Ibrahim (3.Brad Smith 69’)
Substitutes not used
13.Andrew Tarbell, 4.Ethan Bartlow, 14.Mckinze Gaines, 21.Jan Greguš
