The Vancouver Whitecaps did everything they needed to do to walk out with a point in Houston. The Dynamo on the other hand, needing crucial points to climb up the Western Conference table, left frustrated in a game they needed to win.
The stats tell the story of this match.
This was the third encounter between the two clubs this season, the previous two being in Vancouver. The Whitecaps won the first encounter with a penalty kick being the difference and the second was a scoreless tie in the first match for the Dynamo after former head coach Owen Coyle departed the club.
“I’m proud of the shutout; I think that’s a tough thing to do,” said Houston Dynamo Interim Head Coach Wade Barrett. “At the same time it’s just disappointing. We have some points that we’ve just left on the table here.”
Houston Dynamo was the aggressor in this one, outshooting the ‘Caps by six in the first half and two in the second. Vancouver was more precise with the shots they did have and both teams had two shots on target in each half, four overall.
Dynamo Interim Head Coach Wade Barrett came out with a 4-4-2 formation for the first time since he took over for Owen Coyle. Erick Torres and Will Bruin were the two forwards up top in front of a flat midfield.
Barrett was forced into a first half substitution as Abdoulie Mansally came on in the 13th minute for an injured Raúl Rodríguez. Cristian Maidana came on in the 67th minute for Andrew Wenger and Giles Barnes was the last reinforcement in the 80th minute, on for Collen Warner.
DaMarcus Beasley was not available due to injury.
Oscar Boniek Garcia had a shot in the second half that on another night would’ve been a goal, tonight it ricocheted off the woodwork and denied the Honduran midfielder.
Erick Torres, playing full ninety before reporting to Mexico’s olympic preparation and trip to the Rio olympics, could not find the back of the net and neither could fellow forward Will Bruin.
The Whitecaps also had a prominent player out due to injury in Kekuta Manneh. The lone change from last week’s starting eleven for Head Coach Carl Robinson was debutant Cole Seiler at right back.
Seiler was one of the more active players on the night along with Andrew Jacobson, Christian Bolaños and leading-goalscorer Pedro Morales. All four had at least 70 touches on the ball.
“The game is about scoring goals. I think both teams today showed a lot of effort, determination, but lacked a little bit of quality in the final third,” said Vancouver Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson. “I’m proud of the effort of the guys today, I really am. First point we’ve managed to get in Texas in five years since the club has come into Major League Soccer.”
The scoreless tie means the Dynamo have reached five straight home games with a shutout. Their next match will be against ex-coach Dominic Kinnear and the San Jose Earthquakes next Sunday, three days after San Jose hosts the MLS All-Star Game.
Vancouver returns to the state of Texas next Sunday to face FC Dallas in their next MLS match. The ‘Caps will then travel to Trinidad and Tobabo to open their CONCACAF Champions League campaign against Central F.C. the following Tuesday.
Victor Araiza is a beat writer covering the Houston Dynamo for Prost Amerika.
Follow @victoraraiza Tweet to @victoraraiza
