In the previous three matches between Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo, 20 goals had been scored. Tonight in the hot Texas heat, the two clubs battled to a 1-1 draw, low-scoring by previous standards but just as entertaining.
The match also marked a new club record in the MLS regular season with 25 points on the road. Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld also set a club record with 13 assists in an MLS regular season.
Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini called the draw “ a massive point against a very good team.”
“In my opinion, [the Dynamo] are, with the Galaxy, the teams that plays better in the Western Conference.”
In the hot Texan air, the Dynamo were playing in their accustomed conditions. They were the dominant team throughout the first half, forcing the Whitecaps to change their formation and play how Houston dictated.
The Whitecaps were unable to deal with Houston’s wingers. Vancouver’s high line was constantly negated with balls over to the wide Dynamo players who would play threatening balls into the box.
And it almost paid off early for the home side. The Dynamo broke through on the left as Ibrahim Aliyu cut along the byline and got around Mathias Laborda. But his goal in the 10th minute was deemed to be offside.
As the half wore on, the Whitecaps switched to a back 4 with Laborda dropping from the wingback role to play fullback. Setting up more in a 4-4-2, Vancouver sought to hinder those wide long balls.
“We were trying to change a little bit the tactics in the first half because we weren’t able to put pressure today with the two strikers,” Sartini said. “So, our 3-5-2 was a little bit exposed on the side because if you put pressure, they can play in behind you easily, and you have to defend a lot in your half.”
Just before the end of the half, Houston did find their goal. Pedro Vite, already on a yellow card, brought down Amine Bassi inside the 18-yard box. Initially only given as a free kick, referee Alexis Da Silva was called to the pitchside monitor and it was ruled a penalty.
Ezequiel Ponce stepped up and put Houston up by one just as the first half ended.
A couple of halftime changes brought a resurgent Whitecaps to start the second half. With more numbers in wide positions, Houston no longer had their pipeline deep into visitor’s territory.
The Whitecaps were able to use their flanks to push when in possession, particularly through Fafà Picault on the left, who had a positive match both offensively and defensively.
The addition of Brian White, fresh off concussion protocol clearance, came on for a half hour of runtime.
And it paid off. Just over 10 minutes on the pitch, White got his head on the end of a cross from Fafà, tying the match in the 73rd minute. Gauld had the secondary assist.
“We scored a beautiful goal. I would say, a classic Whitecaps goal with a combination on the side and then Brian [White] attacking the first post.”
The Whitecaps continued to push, but Houston made substitutions of their own, winning back the flow of the match and coming close to grabbing a winner. But the 1-1 draw would remain, a toughly fought road point in Texas.
Breaking records
The draw gave the Whitecaps 25 road points so far on the season, a new club MLS record.
“It means to me a very simple thing, that we are a very good team, and we are more than a good team—a good group,” Sartini said.
Sartini credited the character of the players. He also noted the away record stands out because the Whitecaps, throughout the MLS season, have the greatest amount of travel of any club in the league in terms of kilometres.
The Serbian defensive masterclass
Ranko Veselinović continues to be a leader not only in the back line but for the team. Tonight, his quality of play kept the Whitecaps alive in the first half when the match could have been gone if not for his stellar defensive efforts.
“I’m really proud of his growth tactically,” Sartini said of his centre-back. “He’s always been a good defender. But for me, it was always too much, I would say, instinctive and not believing in what he has to do tactically. And in the last two years, he’s become a master in playing in that position in our zonal defence system.
The match tonight was Veselinović’s157th match for the Whitecaps. This puts the Serbian fourth in all-time Whitecaps performances in the MLS era, tied with former player Gershon Koffie.
Next up
The Whitecaps have little time for rest as they fly to Los Angeles to take on the LA Galaxy this weekend.
The match takes place on Sept. 21. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.