Houston Dynamo vs Vancouver Whitecaps: Pre Match Thoughts- Huge 6 pointer from the road vs Houston

6 pointer

This is a crucial match for the Western Conference playoff race, as this is what we call a 6 pointer where not only do you get 3 points, your enemy that also battling for a playoff position or a top 4 position loses 3 points so that equals into 6 points. Like a huge 6 point match that has potential to swing either way at it as both of these teams are desperate to get into a great playoff position to be ready and in shape for a potential MLS playoff run. Vancouver can go 4 points above the Dynamo if a win for the Whitecaps occur, if Houston gets out of this one in their home ground with a victory they jump in front of the Whitecaps in the standings, so big game for either side a 6 pointer on the way here at Shell Energy Stadium, 5:30pm PT is when it kicks off and it will unfortunately for Caps fans that didn't buy Apple TV MLS subscription be free on Apple TV or be streaming on TSN, which is a bummer because it is a bit of a shame that now they don't televise even half the games on TSN so not all the supporters gets involved I feel like.

Standings

As I said the Whitecaps current are only a point above their opposition in Houston, Whitecaps with 41 points, the Dynamo with 40. It is I believe worth a mention that if the Caps win this match, they'll have outscored the points they got from last season which was 43, with 6 games remaining if they successfully defeated the Dynamo. And I feel like beating the point total you got from last season, is a slightly underrated accomplishment as it shows that you as a group have improved, for the Caps is not as impressive and it is a expectation but if for teams that got an outstanding record last season, sure that'll be very impressive to beat the point total that you got. Anyways, the Whitecaps are staring up and they see brightness as the top is definitely reachable, 2 games in hand over St Louis, 8 points difference negatively between the Caps and St Louis, only 2 points off LAFC with a game in hand and 1 point behind Seattle with 2 games in hand, but with how much of a battle this Western Conference playoff race has been, it also applies to when you are looking down at the standings, as the difference between the Whitecaps and 7th place is only a whole point, that's it only a 1 point gap, to get down to have to play another match in the wildcard match it's only a 4 point gap in the 8th place, which you still feel unsafe about, so the sky is the limit for the Caps, but also disaster can striker very easily for the Whitecaps.

Storylines

Well I've already mentioned the 6 pointer that'll be so crucial to the standings and to both these teams as they really have to give maximum effort to this game, as if you lose the punishments await. Now here is another storyline, the last time these two teams faced off was when the Dynamo visited the Whitecaps at BC Place earlier in this season at a Wednesday night. On May 31st, 2023 was where the Houston Dynamo conceded 6 goals, which was superb and very impressive but also after the match one of the most bizzare things happened I've ever seen, after the 6-2 loss Steve Clark (Houston's goalkeeper) went on and flexed to the Vancouver Southsiders while walking back into the tunnel after the defeat and obviously he was swarmed with boos by the Southsiders, and it's just weird and awkward flexing after a 6-2 loss. So I believe that after all I've seen, Steve Clark is a huge victim for the Whitecaps fans, and he can't put on another stinker and the mocking will get even louder by the Whitecaps supporters, well it's nobody's fault other than his, so Steve Clark has to find a way to quiet down the hate that he's been getting from Whitecaps supporters, fortunately for him he won't have to deal with them tonight as it'll be played at Houston, Shell Energy Stadium. But if he doesn't want to get constantly laughed at by the Caps supposed the next time he walks into BC Place, then he'll have to find a way to quiet them down here in this one against the Whitecaps, or else he's probably going to get a unpleasant experience the next time he goes to Vancouver. Another factor in this game I feel like is the previous 6-2 win, and the Dynamo may have reminded themselves that, that was the team that they lost 6-2 against and now they have a whole strategy to prevent that scoreline of happening again, as the Whitecaps were down 2-1 at one point in that game, that means that Houston conceded 5 goals straight, and with everyone joining the party. Gauld, White, Vite, Berhalter and the departed Gressel or scoring a goal, so Houston has to put their heads upwards and this time avoid a disaster, as in this case, this game is a important 6 pointer that is pivotal to both teams for making the playoffs or even better aim for a higher position.

Stat of the game

I'm thinking that the stat of the game against the Dynamo is clean sheets, as Houston a specialist at keeping clean sheets being alone at the top of the league with 12 out of 28 games, Houston preventing their opposition from burying a goal past them, so that will be interesting to see how the Whitecaps will break up their defence, something that Vancouver has been so good at doing this season is breaking open the opposition defence. As I have mentioned, the 6 goals scored against Houston in their last meeting and that is kind of out of their style as the Dynamo have conceded 32 goals this season, 5 less than the Whitecaps. And with so many clean sheets kept by Houston, will that impact the Whitecaps too? Vancouver is superb at opening up the defence either on a counter attack or slowing down the attack then creating slowly but steadily, as if it was 2022 then it's a lone counter attacking attack, but now they've transitioned into a more balanced style, creating in both ways and with the variety of attacking possibilities that might be helpful against Houston whose very good at defending. For the Caps, they only have half of the Houston's clean sheet with only 6 on the season, can it be possible that they add one more?

Vanni's choices

Well, there is some uncertainty about the Whitecaps injuries as both the status of 2 key players Adekugbe and Cubas are unknown. But some good news, Adekugbe was training on Monday which is great, and it looks like he's probable for this match if he can train on Monday, and Cubas was not fully training instead only doing some light jogging but that was on Monday and maybe he has recovered a lot over these last 2 days and Vanni stated something about these 2 players.

Another factor in the lineup choice, is that the Whitecaps will play on Saturday against another good club in Real Salt Lake, the next two opponents for the Whitecaps are both looking for a playoff position, and a even better position as like top 4 in the Western Conference. So two similar balanced opponents in 4 days, so it's difficult planning for Vanni Sartini as it's difficult and tough to plan especially if it's a weekday and weekend match in 4 days. As well as is this the game to give Junior Hoilett his debut, he's certainly available but will Vanni back him to start, or will he just get 10-15 minutes off the bench. So I believe this is how Vanni should play considering the doubtfulness that I have about the injuries, as both players are not 100% ready, Cubas looks like he's going to be a option, but not sure if he is 100% fit currently so it might be better to rest them even more so that we can rotate the squad on Saturday and play a squad that might look slightly worse than Saturday but is still capable of getting a win.

This allows Schopf, Adekugbe, Laborda and Cubas to get a rest and it'll be more recovery time for Adekugbe and Cubas despite if they are available or not, I'd make a substitution for both of them to gain some sharpness if they're available. While Schopf and Laborda can rest and be subbed on if needed. So I would say that this will be the ideal lineup for the Caps tonight.

Prediction

I believe that the Whitecaps are aiming for the win here at Shell Energy Stadium, but if they'll have to settle for a draw they wouldn't be too unhappy and mad about the result and I think the same applies for the Dynamo. So I think this would be a close affair with not too many chances only a few half chances, but the home support will put Houston in front in the first half, but Vancouver will equalize in around the middle of the second half, now here both teams try to score a winner but both will fail, as I predict it will be a 1-1 draw here tonight between the Whitecaps and the Dynamo. As both teams looked pretty even on the skill level, and the result will replicate that.

Final Prediction: Houston 1-1 Vancouver

Key Player For The Caps

I'm hugely backing the Ecuadorian Pedro Vite to perform and strike here, I expect him to be a great playmaker for the Caps tonight, as it seems like he would play after not starting on the match against TFC. He hasn't scored for a month and a half now, also I think I realized that Pedro Vite is a starter calibre player and he should start, but sometimes Vanni hasn't given him the nod to start games, but with how young Vite is (21) he should get more gametime and scoring or providing would help him get in the starting XI more and will start most if not all the games, as he has something to prove to Vanni that he should be a regular starter for the Whitecaps and a goal or assist will be lovely for that.