Houston Dynamo or Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Who wins?

The Houston Dynamo are in desperation mode even if they don't day it. They need a win in the worst kind of way after last week's demoralizing 6-0 road loss in Philadelphia. So how does Houston stack up this week?

First, easier said then done, Houston has to put last week behind them and focus on the job at hand. In order to do that they need to something they don't do very often; score first. The Dynamo are not a come from behind team regardless of if they play at home or on the road. In 18 combined matches home and away, where they have been tied or trailing at the half, they posted a record of 4W-4D-10L.

Second, again whether home or away, they are usually chasing the match. Of the 23 matches played thus far, the Dynamo have scored first just nine times. The good news is that when they have scored first, they have won six of nine. El Naranja is 4-1 when scoring first at home. On the road in 11 contests when scoring first, they are respectable at 2-2. This will be key to winning at BC Place on Friday night.

Third, the team needs road points to have any opportunity at the playoffs. This season they have yet to earn a draw on the road. If they had just four draws, the Houston Dynamo would be just three points or a win away from being in the final playoff spot. Don't doubt for a minute that this club is not aware of that or fighting to get to the right side of the cut-off line.

Finally, Vancouver was a pretty good home team until their last two matches with identical 3-1 losses to Chicago and Minnesota United. They are 4W-1L-D at home in games in which they score first. Their goal differential at BC Place is zero with 14 goals for and against. This game pits two hungry teams looking for redemption. Which Vancouver team shows up? Will it be the who who surrendered six goals in their last two home matches or the one who scored five in their previous four and allowed just two? As for the Dynamo, will it be the road team embarrassed in Philadelphia or the team pulled out a dramatic 2-1 win over San Jose? Call me a homer but I think Nagamura's team will pull out at least a point.

Kick-off at BC Place is slated for 9:30pm CT on Friday night August 5, 2022.