Houston, TX – Warren Creavalle's second-half match-winner lifted the Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Houston fell to FC Dallas by a 3-2 count on the road last week, but home field has truly been an advantage to the Dynamo as the result extends their home unbeaten streak to an impressive 27 consecutive matches.
But it was the visiting side that got on the board first 36 minutes into the match when Darren Mattocks collected a nice feed from Erik Hurtado with his back to goal. He beat his defender with a nice turn and ripped a right-footed wonder-strike into the top right corner from outside the box, leaving Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall with no chance for a save.
Vancouver took its one-goal lead into the intermission, but Houston seized control of the match in the second 45 minutes.
The hosts drew level in the 55th minute when Ricardo Clark floated a cross into the Vancouver penalty area from the right wing and Giles Barnes rushed in completely unmarked and easily nodded it past Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
The equalizing goal shifted the momentum to Houston and the club took advantage by grabbing the go-ahead tally just seven minutes later.
Adam Moffat whipped a corner kick into the box from the left flag. The ball fell to the feet of Will Bruin among a mass of bodies and he managed to get a touch to it, but Creavalle was there to atone for several misses earlier in the match by poking it past Cannon for the 2-1 lead.
Vancouver had one final glorious chance to even things nine minutes from time when Camilo blasted a free kick from 25 yards out that looked earmarked for the top right corner, but it smacked the crossbar before glancing off the left post and staying out of the net to hand Houston a vital three points.
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