Post Match: Whitecaps Play Soccer Game Against Dynamo

The Vancouver Whitecaps played the Houston Dynamo to a soporific 0-0 draw.

The Whitecaps opened the match not looking totally awful. They first half was basically a stalemate with one good Cristian Dájome chance off a corner.

Dájome and Caicedo did some interesting stuff on the wings but other than that there really was not a whole heck of a lot happening from open play.

Of course defensively the first half was immaculate. Houston’s only opportunity of note was a long range free kick that hit the post. This was a continuation of the strong defensive performance in the second half against the L.A Galaxy. If the Whitecaps could have this level of defending all the time then they would barely have to score at all to come out on top most of the time (though, my god, they would probably have to get some shots inside the penalty area from open play). At the same time though, one does have to consider that the Galaxy were without Chicharito and that the Dynamo are grim.

In the second half the Whitecaps managed to hit a post of their own but truly neither side ever looked like scoring. Both teams managed 1 shot inside the penalty area and Houston had the game’s only shot on target. There was definitely defensive improvement but Houston are one of the worst teams in the league so it’s hard to get too excited about that.

Certain players seem to have been banished to the shadow realm for no immediately obvious reason, it maybe would have been nice to see more of them rotated in or subbed on earlier. I mean what’s the worst they can do, not score? That’s already happening with the players who didn’t lose out on MDS doghouse roulette this month.

This might be the sort of game Ryan Gauld could have been the game breaker in. But if you’re relying on one guy, even a guy who’s a really good player and central to the way the team is supposedly trying to play, to beat one of the league’s bottom feeders it doesn’t feel good. That doesn’t say a lot of good things about the structural integrity of the team overall.

The Whitecaps have 1 win in their last 10 matches and next face LAFC, a team they have shipped 6 goals to in each of the last 2 seasons. Oh boy.