CHARLESTON, S.C. – Houston Dynamo midfielder Adam Moffat unleashed one of his patented long-distance bombs to net the late game-winner as the Houston Dynamo came from behind to down the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Wednesday night at Blackbaud Stadium.
Moffat's strike came just two minutes after Will Bruin equalized for Houston with a cool finish on a 1-v-1 against the Vancouver goalkeeper in the 75th minute.
REACTION: Kinnear and Moffat discuss Wednesday's match
Whitecaps forward Corey Hertzog had put the Whitecaps up 1-0 in the 27th minute after intercepting a misguided Jermaine Taylor back pass and slotting home from a tight angle.
The Hertzog goal came against the run of play, as the Dynamo took advantage of strong build-up play to create a multitude of scoring opportunities, most of which failed to find the frame.
Before Hertzog’s goal, it was the Whitecaps who came closest to scoring when holding midfielder Russell Teibert struck the right post on a low drive in the 17th minute. But a mostly reserve Whitecaps side struggled to manage against the Dynamo’s high defensive line, falling victim to numerous offside calls in the first half.
The Dynamo continued to create the majority of chances in the second half, despite introducing a host of subs after the break. They finally found the back of the net in the 75th minute through Bruin, their 2012 leading goal scorer, who latched onto a Brad Davis through ball to score just two minutes after entering as a sub.
Two minutes later Moffat, who had also just come into the match, fired a laser shot into the upper right corner of the goal from 30 yards out to put the Dynamo ahead to stay.
The Dynamo will have their hands full against the hometown Charleston Battery in the Saturday night finale of the CCC (7:15 pm ET). In the doubleheader opener, the Whitecaps take on the Chicago Fire (5 pm ET).
Goals: 27’ Hertzog (VAN), 75’ Bruin (HOU), 77’ Moffat (HOU)
Cautions: 55’ Arena (HOU), 79’ Nealis (HOU), 90' Heinemann (VAN), 92' Mitchell (VAN)
Houston Dynamo (left to right, 4-4-2): Hall – Ashe (46’ Nealis), Taylor (46’ Arena), Boswell (46’ Brunner), Sarkodie (46’ Chabala) – Dixon (73’ Davis), Creavalle (73’ Moffat), Barnes (46’ Camargo), Boniek (46’ Ownby) – Johnson (73’ Bruin), Weaver (46’ Ching)
Vancouver Whitecaps (left to right, 4-2-3-1): Knighton – Klazura, Clement, Mitchell, Sampson – Teibert, Davidson (81’ Olando) – Paulo Jr (81’ Emmanuel), Camilo (78’ Heinemann), Hurtado (46’ Watson) – Hertzog (71’ Orgill)
