Houston Dynamo “stunned” by Vancouver Whitecaps at home
The Houston Dynamo were coming off a demonstrative win. Rather than follow up, they were stunned by a visiting Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Houston Dynamo home advantage came under attack March 10. That’s when the Vancouver Whitecaps made good on enough opportunities to beat the home team, 2-1.
They got a nearly perfect goalkeeping effort from Stefan Marinovic. He yielded only one goal from Alberth Elis in the 39th minute.
Marinovic saved six shots. But he looked much busier than that. The Dynamo attempted 21 shots throughout the game. That’s the second most under head coach Wilmer Cabrera. Also, it’s the sixth-most shot-total in club history.
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The Dynamo favored a defensive scheme to their main 4-3-3 formation. That decision came from the Whitecaps’ preferred 4-1-4-1.
In the statistics box, the Dynamo’s strategy looks like the right idea. They won a franchise-record 15 corner kicks to the Whitecaps’ four. They more than doubled up the Whitecaps’ passes, 531-266 and time of possession, 67%-33%.
That part of the game shows dramatic improvement in the Dynamo’s possession proficiency for the second game in a row. They even kept close to the opponent in duels won, with the Whitecaps edging them out by six at 57.
Following Houston Dynamo highlights, mood turns dark
After those aspects of the performance get digested, the mood turns dark for the home team.
On one side, Dynamo F Alberth Elis scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Tómas Martinez and Eric Alexander. That followed a 28th minute penalty-kick goal by F Kei Kamara. Then in the 49th minute, M Brek Shea scored the winner, assisted by Kei Kamara.
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The Whitecaps bested the Dynamo on tackles 15-8 and overwhelmed them in clearances 42-3.
Vancouver Whitecaps sharpness
That begins the understanding of Houston’s defeat. The Whitecaps mountain of clearances came from the Dynamo’s 47 crosses. In his post-game press conference, Cabrera emphasize first his team’s failure to seize their opportunities, finish their crosses and generally punish their opponent.
He also keyed on Vancouver’s success in using up remaining time in the second half. After blocking crosses, the Whitecaps found ways to use up the remaining clock before play progressed.
Also, he would have valued a review of a second-half stoppage time foul on Elis that could have granted the Dynamo an important chance.
Yet, Cabrera emphasized that the Whitecaps used speed and seizing of opportunities to win the game. They also used their sharpness to kill the second-half clock.
That’s why after a career-highlight performance, G Marinovic drew a yellow card in the second half for time-wasting.
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The Vancouver Whitecaps played with sharpness on Houston’s home pitch. In response, the Houston Dynamo must use this week get sharp themselves. They head on the road to D.C. United.