Vancouver Whitecaps leave it late to punish the Houston Dynamo
Goals in the 89th and 92nd minute overturned the Dynamo’s 0-1 lead so the points stayed at home.
The Vancouver Whitecaps produced a miraculous comeback to treat their fans to a 2-1 home win against the Houston Dynamo on Friday. With both sides desperately needing the three points to stay in touch with the Western Conference playoff picture, it was Houston striking first through a corner in the sixth minute. After the initial corner was cleared, Sam Junqua’s floating ball back into the box beat the goalkeeper after it bounced, although Fafa Picault was credited with the goal after claiming he got a toe on it.
Houston controlled 63 per cent of the possession in the first half and were good value for their lead, leading the shot count six-to-three and the pass count 358-to-199. But the longer the game went, the more passive the visiting side became, and instead of dictating the play, they sat back and looked to protect their lead.
Becher caps MLS debut
Vancouver swung the game with 54 per cent possession in the second half, producing nine shots to Houston’s three, and they were rewarded with an equaliser in the 89th minute from Simon Becher. Becher found the back of the net six minutes after being brought on for his MLS debut, scrambling the ball in after it pin-balled around the six-yard box, before fellow sub Lucas Cavallini scored the winner with a low left-foot drive that snuck under the Houston keeper in the 92nd minute.