HOUSTON, TX – After going unbeaten in their first four road matches, Vancouver Whitecaps FC finally suffered their first defeat of the extended road stretch 4-1 to Houston Dynamo FC on a hot and humid night in Houston, Texas.
It would be an even start to the match in Texas, Houston would threaten in the early stages, forcing Whitecaps FC into some fouls before threatening themselves on the counter. Ryan Gauld would nearly find Brian White in the 10th minute through a menacing cross, but it would be intercepted right before the striker could redirect it in.
However, it would be the Dynamo who would break the deadlock, scoring off a free-kick in the 13th minute. Héctor Herrera’s direct kick would deflect off the 'Caps wall and leave Yohei Takaoka stranded, redirecting into the far side.
Whitecaps FC would dig deep and try to get back into the match after conceding. White would once again come close to getting a fantastic opportunity as a long ball would have played him in clean on goal, had Steve Clark not been quick off his line and cleared the ball.
Ali Ahmed would test his luck from range with 15 minutes to go, with his effort being smothered by Clark to maintain the lead. Artur would come close to doubling Houston’s lead with just over five minutes to go in the first half, as his turn and shot was neatly saved by Takaoka.
Not a minute later, Vite would also try his luck, this time forcing a more acrobatic save by Clark for a corner. However, it would be Griffin Dorsey who would get Houston’s second just before the half, driving down the left side and curling an effort past Takaoka at his far post. His goal would be the last action of the half.
Whitecaps FC would come flying out of the gates in the second half, with Gauld immediately putting a dangerous ball across goal. Gauld would come close to pulling one back once again just a few minutes later, with his curling effort from just outside the box going wide.
The 'Caps would continue that pressure, and would nearly halve the deficit through White. Another great cross into the box would be met by White but his header would clear over bar. Just as Whitecaps FC were getting momentum, Houston would put them to the sword in the 73rd minute. A Brad Smith cross from the left would be found by Iván Franco, whose diving header would give Takaoka no chance.
Houston would make it four with less than 10 minutes to go, as Ibrahim Aliyu would pounce on a loose ball in the box and tuck it past Takaoka to bury the game. Whitecaps FC would grab a late consolation goal in the 90th minute through an own goal. Javain Brown would force Erik Sviatchenko to put the ball into the back of his own net through a driven cross across goal. That would be the last chance of the match before the final whistle.
Whitecaps FC are back in action on Saturday, September 23 against Real Salt Lake in Utah at 6:30 p.m. PT, available to watch on Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass and listen on AM730. ‘Caps are back at BC Place on September 30 against D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
MATCH DETAILS
Attendance: 13,866
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Scoring Summary
13’ – HOU – Héctor Herrera
44’ – HOU – Griffin Dorsey (Corey Baird)
73’ – HOU – Iván Franco (Brad Smith)
83’ – HOU – Ibrahim Aliyu
90’ – VAN – Erik Sviatchenko (own goal)
Statistics
Possession: HOU 49% - VAN 51%
Shots: HOU 6 - VAN 11
Shots on Goal: HOU 5 - VAN 4
Saves: HOU 4 - VAN 1
Fouls: HOU 18 - VAN 9
Offsides: HOU 0 - VAN 0
Corners: HOU 0 - VAN 3
Cautions
2’ – VAN – Ryan Raposo
24’ – VAN – Andrés Cubas
30’ – HOU – Sebastian Kowalczyk
49’ – HOU – Corey Baird
52’ – HOU – Griffin Dorsey
60’ – HOU – Micael
Houston Dynamo FC
12.Steve Clark; 25.Griffin Dorsey, 28.Erik Sviatchenko, 31.Micael, 17.Teenage Hadebe; 6.Artur (18.Ibrahim Aliyu 78’), 16.Héctor Herrera © (35.Brooklyn Raines 85’), 27.LuÃs Caicedo; 32.Sebastian Kowalczyk (7.Iván Franco 56’), 11.Corey Baird, 21.Nelson Quiñónes (3.Brad Smith 56’)
Substitutes not used
13.Andrew Tarbell, 4.Ethan Bartlow, 5.Daniel Steres, 30.Chase Gasper, 34.Thorleifur Úlfarsson
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
18.Yohei Takaoka; 23.Javain Brown, 2.MathÃas Laborda, 6.Tristan Blackmon; 20.Andrés Cubas (16.Sebastian Berhalter HT); 7.Richie Laryea (28.Levonte Johnson 78’), 22.Ali Ahmed, 45.Pedro Vite, 27.Ryan Raposo (11.Junior Hoilett HT); 24.Brian White (29.Simon Becher 68’), 25.Ryan Gauld © (26.J.C. Ngando 84’)
Substitutes not used
32.Isaac Boehmer, 4.Ranko Veselinović, 8.Alessandro Schöpf, 31.Russell Teibert
