Recap: Houston Dynamo 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1

The Houston Dynamo celebrated the fifth anniversary of the opening of BBVA Compass Stadium with a 2-1 victory in front of 16,075 orange-clad fans Friday night. A 68th-minute penalty kick from forward Erick Torres sealed the victory and allowed Houston to surpass the team’s win total at home in 2016 with its sixth victory of the season.


The Dynamo started pressing the ‘Caps quickly as the Honduran connection found the back of the net. In the 15th minute, forward Romell Quioto recovered a ball from a deflection of defender Sheanon Williams. Quioto sent a ball to forward Alberth Elis to the back post. La Panterita headed the ball from a close range to give the Dynamo the lead.


The Dynamo extended the lead in the second half. In the 68th minute, defender Kendall Watson committed a foul to forward Mauro Manotas inside the box. Torres stepped up to the penalty spot and executed the shot to the bottom right corner.


Vancouver prevented Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis’ third clean sheet of the season in the 85th minute as Christian Bolanos found Brek Shea with a free kick at the near post for his third goal in as many games.


In the first minute, Manotas recovered and sent a cross to Quioto on the left side. The Honduran native left booted shot went over the cross bar. 


In the 28th minute, the ‘Caps had a close opportunity to tie the scoreboard. Bolaños sent a cross via a corner kick to the center of the box, defender Tim Parker struck the cross with a header that went over the cross bar.


As the first half was coming to an end, the Dynamo attempted to extended the lead. During compensation time, midfielder Alex took on a corner kick that found Torres in the six-yard box. El Cubo headed the ball but the attempt went wide to the right. 


The Dynamo had another opportunity early on the second half. Alex threaded a ball to Quioto, who sent a low cross to Manotas. The right footed attempt by Manotas bounced over the bar. 


Manotas’ final opportunity of the game came in the 74th minute after midfielder Andrew Wenger found the forward outside the six yard box. Manotas’ first touch lifted the ball in a favorable angle but his effort went over the bar.


The Dynamo will continue the 2017 season, presented by 76, on Friday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. CDT against Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium.


Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
MLS Week 11
May 12, 2017 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas

Scoring Summary:
HOU: Alberth Elis 5 (Romell Quioto 2) 15
HOU: Erick Torres 8 (penalty kick) 68
VAN: Brek Shea 2 (Christian Bolanos 2) 85


Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley; Ricardo Clark©, Juan David Cabezas, Alex; Alberth Elis (Erick Torres 31), Mauro Manotas (Memo Rodriguez 81), Romell Quioto (Andrew Wenger 56)
Unused Substitutes: Vicente Sánchez, Tyler Deric, Jalil Anibaba, Kevin Garcia  


Total shots: 14 (Mauro Manotas, Erick Torres tied with 4); Shots on goal: 4 (Adolfo Machado, Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas, Erick Torres tied with 1); Fouls: 19 (A.J. DeLaGarza, Juan Cabezas tied with 3); Offside: 4 (Alex 3); Corner kicks: 9 (Alex 8); Saves: 2 (Joe Willis)


Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Outsed; Sheanon Watson, Kendall Watson©, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Matías Laba (Russell Teibert 77); Cristian Techera (Brek Shea 69), Andrew Jacobson, Tony Tchani (Alphonso Davies 60), Christian Bolaños; Fredy Montero
Unused Substitutes: Marcel de Jong, Mauro Rosales, Nicolás Mezquida, Paolo Tornaghi


Total shots: 13 (Tim Parker 3); Shots on goal: 3 (Christian Bolanos, Matias Laba, Brek Shea tied with 1); Fouls: 9 (Kendall Watson 3); Offside: 1 (Fredy Montero); Corner kicks: 6 (Christian Bolanos 5); Saves: 2 (David Ousted)


Discipline:
HOU: Adolfo Machado caution (unsporting behavior) 21
VAN: Matías Laba caution (unsporting behavior) 39
HOU: Mauro Manotas caution (time wasting) 61
VAN: Kendall Watson caution (unsporting behavior) 67
HOU: A.J. DeLaGarza (time wasting) 90+2


OFFICIALS
Referee: Foti Bazakos
Assistant Referee 1: Danny Thornberry
Assistant Referee 2: Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Daniel Radford