VANCOUVER WHITECAPS vs. HOUSTON DYNAMO
BC PLACE, Vancouver, British Columbia
March 26, 2016 (WEEK 4, MLS GAME #33)
10:30 pm ET (MLS LIVE, TSN, ROOT Sports SW)
It's a meeting of high-fliers in the Western Conference when Vancouver Whitecaps FC entertain the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening at BC Place. Whitecaps FC got into the win column in the new season with yet another victory at arch-rival Seattle Sounders FC, this time a 2-1 victory last weekend. The Dynamo suffered their first defeat of the campaign in yet another goalfest, falling 4-3 at the New York Red Bulls last Saturday evening.
- Pedro Morales scored two goals from the penalty spot as Whitecaps FC won for the first time this season after two losses in a 2-1 win at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday. Morales has scored the ‘Caps last three goals – all converted penalties. Whitecaps FC have won four consecutive league games against their Cascadia rivals at CenturyLink Field.
- The Dynamo have scored 11 goals through their first three games – the most of any team in MLS history after three games. Will Bruin scored a pair of goals – his eighth career multiple-goal game in MLS – and Boniek Garcia added a pair of assists – his third career multiple-assist game in MLS – as the Dynamo suffered a 4-3 loss at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
- In seven meetings all-time between the clubs, the home team has won each, including in both meetings between the teams a year ago. Whitecaps FC won the last meeting between the clubs, a 3-0 win at BC Place on Decision Day last year, their third home win in the series.
- The Dynamo have won both meetings all-time at BBVA Compass Stadium, including a 2-0 win last Aug. 29, in their three home wins in the all-time series.
REFEREE: David Gantar. AR1 (bench): Mike Kampmeinert; AR2 (opposite): Jeremy Hanson; 4th: Younes Marrakchi
MLS Career: 40 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 2.7; R: 17; pens: 7
SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: VAN: Tim Parker (USA U-23; vs. Colombia U-23 3/25, 3/29); Christian Bolaños; Kendall Waston (Costa Rica; vs. Jamaica 3/25, 3/29); Blas Perez (Panama; at Haiti 3/25, 3/29) ... HOU: Boniek Garcia (Honduras; vs. El Salvador 3/25, 3/29); Erick Torres (Mexico U-23)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (7 meetings): Whitecaps FC 4 wins, 11 goals...Dynamo 3 wins, 9 goals...Ties 0
AT VANCOUVER (4 meetings): Whitecaps FC 4 wins, 9 goals...Dynamo 0 wins, 2 goals...Ties 0
RETURN MATCHES: 5/28: Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Houston Dynamo, 3 p.m. PT; 7/23: Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 8:30 p.m. CT
LAST YEAR (MLS):
8/29: HOU 2, VAN 0 (Clark 34; R. Rodriguez 87)
10/25 VAN 3, HOU 0 (Manneh 59; Waston 72; Earnshaw 93+)
- In seven meetings all-time between the clubs, the home team has won each, including in both meetings between the teams a year ago. Whitecaps FC won the last meeting between the clubs, a 3-0 win at BC Place on Decision Day last year, their third home win in the series.
- The Dynamo have won both meetings all-time at BBVA Compass Stadium, including a 2-0 win last Aug. 29, in their three home wins in the all-time series.
- Coaches record: Owen Coyle vs. VAN: P2 W1 L1 T0 Ö Carl Robinson vs. HOU: P3 W2 L1 T0
