Vancouver Whitecaps v Houston Dynamo – The Story In Pictures
After getting their first of the new season down in Seattle last weekend, Vancouver Whitecaps racked up their first home win and first clean sheet of the year in a hard fought 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo at BC Place on Saturday night.
Pedro Morales made it four penalties in three matches with the only goal of the game in the 21st minute. Houston tried to get back into the game, hitting the post and the crossbar, but the league’s leading attack couldn’t find any way past Vancouver’s makeshift backline and understrength line-up.
There were some definite positives from Vancouver on the night, including some exceptional attacking play in the first half hour and the clean sheet. The lack of goals from open play is still concerning, but as long as they’re coming in other ways, that’s not as big an issue as it could/should be right now.
The wins sees the Whitecaps finish March with two wins and two defeats, with the team still very much finding their feet. Satisfying, but a lot of work is still need. Onwards and upwards.
AFTN photographer Tom Ewasiuk was there to capture all the action before, during and after the game and here’s his “Story In Pictures”, with a full Flickr slideshow at the end.
[Also check out Tom’s website www.residualimagephotography.com for more of his photos and work].
Curva Collective are ready for battle
Vancouver Whitecaps’ starting eleven – the framing of this is line-up is just so off!
Say hello to the bad guys
Scarves up Southsiders
Cristian Techera was busy early, lobbing an effort just wide 3 minutes in before Octavio Rivero tried to flick on a Techera cross in the 11th minute but couldn’t get enough on it
Joe Willis is called into action again in the 16th minute saving from Masato Kudo after Fraser Aird plays him on after a quick Kekuta Manneh break
The rebound falls to Rivero but his shot is deflected over
The corner falls to Andrew Jacobson in the box and the makeshift center back sees his drilled shot parried by Willis and cleared
Vancouver’s pressure finally gets some reward when Jalil Anibaba sends Kudo crashing down in the box and referee Dave Gantar points to the spot, much to Houston’s disbelief
Pedro Morales steps up and clinically slots home his fourth penalty in three games to make it 1-0 ‘Caps in the 23rd minute
Cue the celebrations
Houston try and get back in things right away and David Ousted stands stall against DaMarcus Beasley
Houston fight back and Leonel Miranda’s 31st minute scissor kick crashes off the bar
Houston were huffing and puffing in the second half but Vancouver’s defence was relatively untroubled until Ricardo Clark crashes a 72nd minutes shot of Ousted’s left post
Vancouver hold on for the 1-0 win and Masato Kudo joins Curva Collective for the post match Humba
Safe to say Owen Coyle wasn’t best pleased with the result, the penalty and the lack of goals from his Houston side
Robbo on the other hand was delighted!
You can see all of Tom’s photos from the game HERE and in our full Flickr slideshow below:
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