The Houston Dynamo out-shot the Vancouver Whitecaps 17-9 but could not find the back of the net in what would end with shared spoils in a 0-0 draw for the two Western Conference clubs.
Houston coach Wade Barrett was tested early tactically, as the Dynamo were forced to sub their veteran center back RaĂşl RodrĂguez in the 13th minute due to injury, replacing him with Abdoulie Mansally and shifting Jalil Anibaba to left center back.
Neither team could find the back of the net in an even first half. While the Dynamo attempted more shots than Vancouver (10-4) in the first 45, the home side were out-passed 287 to 208 in the opening segment.
Boniek GarcĂa nearly gave Houston the lead in the 70th minute when his left-footed shot blasted off the inside of the post.
Barrett threw the kitchen sink at the Whitecaps in the second half, introducing attacking threats in Giles Barnes and Cristian Maidana; the attacking pair were unable to put their stamp on the match.
David Ousted consistently came up big for the Whitecaps, making difficult save after difficult save in securing the critical road point.
Houston Dynamo (3-7-4; 13 points) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6-6-4; 22 points)
MLS Regular Season
July 23, 2016 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,465
Scoring Summary:
None.
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Sheanon Williams, David Horst, RaĂşl RodrĂguez (Abdoulie Mansally 13), Jalil Anibaba; Andrew Wenger (Cristián Maidana 67), Alex, Collen Warner (Giles Barnes 80), Boniek GarcĂa ©; Erick Torres, Will Bruin
Substitutes Not Used: Calle Brown, Ricardo Clark, Mauro Manotas
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Erick Torres, Will Bruin tied with 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (David Horst, Sheanon Williams, Erick Torres, Will Bruin tied with 1); FOULS: 12 (Sheanon Williams 3); OFFSIDES: 2 (Erick Torres, Will Bruin tied with 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Boniek GarcĂa 3); SAVES: 4 (Joe Willis 4)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: David Ousted; Cole Seiler, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey; Andrew Jacobson, MatĂas Laba; Christian Bolaños, Nicolás Mezquida (Blas PĂ©rez 67), Pedro Morales © (Cristian Techera 85); Masato Kudo (Erik Hurtado 74)
Substitutes Not Used:Paolo Tornaghi, Fraser Aird, Marcel de Jong, Jordan Smith
TOTAL SHOTS: 9 (Pedro Morales 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Pedro Morales, Masata Kudo tied with 2); FOULS: 16 (Cole Seiler 5); OFFSIDES: 1 (Masato Kudo 1); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Christian Bolaños 4); SAVES: 4 (David Ousted 4)
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: Andrew Wenger (caution) 62
VAN: Erik Hurtado (caution) 84
Referee: Jaime Herrera
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner; Jonathan Johnson
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo