Preview: 'Caps head to Houston for key mid-week clash | Watch on MLS Season Pass

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VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC (13W-8L-6D) are set to hit the road for a pair of Western Conference road clashes this week. First up, the 'Caps face Houston Dynamo FC (12W-8L-8D) on Wednesday, September 18 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas. Vancouver enters the match in sixth place in the West with 45 points, while Houston sit closely behind them in seventh with 44 points. Kickoff on Wednesday is set for 5:30 p.m. PT.

Wednesday will mark the 25th MLS meeting between the 'Caps and the Dynamo.

WEEKLY STORYLINES

SEEKING ROAD HISTORY: Following an impressive 2-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes at the weekend, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to hit the road for a pair of Western Conference road clashes. First up, the 'Caps head to the heat of Texas for a mid-week tilt against Houston Dynamo FC on Wednesday, with only a point separating the two sides heading into Matchday 33 action. The Blue and White will then face Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy on Saturday, marking the club's fifth visit to California this year (including preseason). Vancouver will be looking to make a bit of road history during their road swing, as they currently equal two club records on the road with seven wins and 24 points in an MLS season, which were previously set in 2015. The 'Caps have posted a record of 6W-1L-2D in their last nine MLS matches.

VANCOUVER'S SCOTS: It didn't take long for Vancouver's Scottish duo to combine on Saturday night against San Jose. After coming on in the 84th minute, Stuart Armstrong scored his first 'Caps goal two minutes and 20 seconds later thanks to a lovely setup from his compatriot Ryan Gauld. The duo, who were on the field together for the first time since Armstrong's arrival, were previously teammates during the early days of their career at Scottish side Dundee United FC. In addition, with his two assists on Saturday, Gauld has now recorded 15 goal contributions (six goals, nine assists) in his last 15 appearances across all competitions. He also leads the league in big chances created with 21, sits second in chances created with 79, and third in expected assists per 90 with 0.37.

STURDY AT THE BACK: Saturday's victory saw the 'Caps earn their fourth straight clean sheet, and their ninth of the season in all competitions, to extend their shutout streak to 393 minutes. Last season, the 'Caps set a club-record shutout streak at 443 minutes with four consecutive clean sheets in MLS regular season play. This season's shutout streak has been shared between goalkeepers Isaac Boehmer and Yohei Takaoka, with Boehmer keeping a clean sheet in TELUS Canadian Championship action and Takaoka securing three clean sheets in league play. Vancouver also holds the seventh-least expected goals conceded in the league with 36.0 (fourth-least in the West) and sit fifth in clearances per match with 19.4.

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