VANCOUVER, B.C - The Whitecaps four-match road trip came to an end with a match against the resurgent Houston Dynamo. Vancouver was looking to earn a their first ever win in Houston. In the end, it wasn't to be as the Dynamo prevailed with a 2-1 victory in front of 16,075 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Alberth Elis opened the scoring and Cubo Torres scored from the spot in the second half. For the second consecutive match, Brek Shea came off the bench to score. Houston improves to 6-3-1 on the season, and Vancouver slips to 4-5-1.
Carl Robinson shared his thoughts on the match, and specifically his teams slow start.
"Looking at this game, I thought we started tentatively and gave a way a soft goal. We didn't stop the cross. They managed to score, and it wasn't a great start for us. I'm disappointed, because I think it's a very very soft (penalty) call. For me you can't give that."
It's not doubt that the penalty that went against Vancouver was the ultimate deciding factor in the match. According to Robinson, it was never a proper penalty call.
"I've just managed to look at the replay now," said Robinson. "When the ball is played, the boy runs into Kendall. Maybe he's lost track of the ball, for me it's not a penalty. It's unfortunate for us today, because the performance was very very good."
The Opening 45
Carl Robinson used the same starting lineup for the fourth match in a row, featuring three holding midfielders in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Fredy Montero led the line, and skipper Kendall Waston was fit to play after battling the flu earlier in the week.
The Dynamo got off to a fantastic start with a goal in the 15' minute. Romell Quioto sent a cross into the box, and Sheanon Williams was late to close him down. Alberth Elis was able to rise up over Tim Parker, and Jordan Harvey to deliver a header on target. Goalkeeper, David Ousted got a piece of the ball, but not enough to make a save.
It was a short outing for Honduran international, Alberth Elis. He was forced to leave the match with a right leg strain in the 31' minute. MLS co-leading goal-scorer, Erick 'Cubo' Toress came on in his place.
Vancouver was a tad bit behind the fast paced Dynamo in the opening fort-five. Coach Wilmer Cabrera had Houston dominating on the counter-attack. The Caps were slow to react to a Dynamo dictating side. Vancouver never really troubled keeper, Joe Willis.
At the interval, Vancouver trailed 1-0 and possession was a dead even 50%.
The Second Half
The Houston Dynamo added to their lead in the 68' minute when Kendall Waston was issued yellow card for what looked like an accidental collision with Mauro Manotas. Referee Fotis Bazakos pointed to the spot and promptly ignored Waston's persistence against the penalty decision.
Cubo Torres stepped up and sent Ousted the wrong way. The Mexican striker scored his 30th career MLS goal and doubled the Dynamo lead with his 8th MLS tally of the season.
Carl Robinson was looking for a spark from his bench and he brought on Alphonso Davies in the 60' minute and Brek Shea in the 69' minute. Shea, from nearby Bryan, Texas had 20 family and friends in attendance supporting him.
Shea didn't disappoint his large contingent of fans. The Caps winger headed home a goal in the 85' minute off a free kick from Christian Bolanos. Vancouver had that spark they were looking for, but they were quickly running out of time to secure an equalizer.
The Dynamo proved to be too much for Vancouver. The Caps held firm, and throughly competed with Houston. If not for a bogus penalty call against Vancouver, the Caps may have earned a draw. Instead, Houston is given a gift, and does enough to pick up the win.
Man of the Match
Erick Torres
Cubo Torres didn't start for Houston, but he certainly created problems for the Whitecaps when he entered the match in the first half. Torres has rejuvenated Houston with his return to MLS. The Dynamo's already dangerous attack, added another dangerous weapon with Torres available. He scored the match-winner and help Houston earn three valuable points. Torres was a big difference maker.
Vancouver Whitecaps Starting XI: David Ousted; Jordan Harvey, Tim Parker, Sheanon Williams; Matias Laba, 77 (Russell Teibert); Cristian Techera, 69 (Brek Shea), Tony Tchani, 60 (Alphonso Davies), Andrew Jacobson, Christian Bolanos; Fredy Montero. 4-1-4-1.
Houston Dynamo Starting XI: Joe Wilis; DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, A.J. DeLaGarza; Ricardo Clark(C), Juan Cabezes, Alex; Romell Quioto, 56 (Andrew Wenger), Mauro Manotas, 81 (Memo Rodriguez), Alberth Elis, 31 (Erick Torres). 4-3-3
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