Both Vancouver Whitecaps and Houston Dynamo missed out on the playoffs last season and will be aiming to make up for that by qualifying in the 2017 MLS season. Vancouver Whitecaps have won the Canadian Championship once but are yet to win anything in the MLS. Their best finish came in 2015 as they ended the regular season in second place in the Western Conference and third place overall.
However, they lost out in the Conference semi-finals but would be more than happy to reach that stage of the competition again this season. Houston Dynamo have won the MLS Cup twice, doing so in 2006 and 2007. Since then they have won the Eastern Conference twice, the most recent being in 2012 but have failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
Vancouver Whitecaps Form
Vancouver Whitecaps have been hugely inconsistent this season and having picked up a good 4-0 win at FC Dallas and 0-0 draw at Colorado Rapids went on to lose 1-0 at New England Revolution last weekend.
The fact Vancouver Whitecaps have won, drawn and lost in their last 3 MLS games sums up their season perfectly. They also have 3 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats in their last 9 MLS games and again, this shows their high level of inconsistency. Each of their last 3 MLS games have been away from home and they will be looking forward to getting back to BC Place Stadium this weekend. At home, Vancouver Whitecaps have lost 2 of their last 8 games, winning 4 and drawing 2, keeping just a single clean sheet in the process.
Houston Dynamo Form
Houston Dynamo start this round of fixtures sitting top of the Western Conference and a win would see them stretch their lead to 9 points over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Houston Dynamo are undefeated in their last 6 MLS games, defeating Montreal Impact, DC United and San Jose Earthquakes and picking up a point against Minnesota United, Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake City.
Prior to that run of games, Houston Dynamo won only 1 of their 8 matches, so they have enjoyed a good turnaround in form. However, wins have been difficult to find away from home and Houston Dynamo have picked up just a single victory on the road in 12 attempts this season.
Team News
Vancouver Whitecaps will be without the injured duo of David Edgar and Matias Laba for this game. They are expected to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Freddy Montero in attack. Houston Dynamo are without the suspended Alberth Elis and injured George Malki. They are expected to play in the same formation as the hosts, with Erick “Cubo” Torres leading the line.
Top Betting Tips
Having drawn and lost their last 2 games, Vancouver Whitecaps form suggests they will win this game. However, Houston Dynamo have shown enough away from home in recent weeks to claim a point from this game and the draw is available at 13/5 with Ladbrokes. Vancouver Whitecaps have kept only 2 clean sheets in 10 home MLS games this season and conceded in each of their last 5 at BC Place. The draw and both teams to score is 10/3 with Ladbrokes. Having left the MLS to play in the Gold Cup, Erick Torres has yet to find the back of the net on his return. The Mexican is Houston Dynamo’s top scorer and will be eager to get back amongst the goals in this game. Torres is 5/2 to score any time with Ladbrokes.