Houston Dynamo vs Vancouver Whitecaps Final Score 3-2: Memo Rodriguez Brace Leads Dynamo to Victory

On Saturday, the Houston Dynamo hosted the Vancouver Whitecaps looking for back to back wins. The March game was a cool one robbing Houston of humid home field advantage. Instead they just needed a homegrown hero to help them get the win.

Homegown midfielder Memo Rodriguez opened up the scoring in the 15th minute of the game. Alberth Elis sent a low cross to Rodriguez whose run turned inside just in time to find the ball. With one tap the midfielder put the ball right past goal keeper Maxime Crepeau to put Houston up 1-0.

The Whitecaps were awarded a penalty kick in the 34th minute of the game after Fredy Montero went down. Montero took the kick sending the ball right down the middle as Houston’s goal keeper Joe Willis dove expecting the ball to come in the corner.

Alberth Elis was taken down in the 41st minute of the game and was awarded a penalty kick. As he got ready to take the kick the referee stopped the play as they decided to review the decision. After several minutes of waiting it was announced that the call would stand. Elis took the kick and the ball took a skip as it went past Crepeau who dove the wrong direction. The Dynamo had retaken the lead as the game went to half time.

The second half got off to a rocky start as the Whitecaps scored nine minutes into the half. The Dynamo turned the ball over in the midfield which allowed Lass Bangoura to make a break with the ball. Kiki Struna stayed with him but Lass made a cut that allowed him to get around Struna. Lass got his shot off just as it looked like the rest of the field would catch up to provide Struna with help. The shot curled in just out of reach of Willis to tie things up at 2-2.

Houston continued to show an edge over the Whitecaps even as they dominated possession in the game.

Elis passed the ball to Mauro Manotas as the Dynamo worked to move the ball down the field in the 73rd minute. After making the pass Elis ran down the side of the field as Manotas sent the ball back to him. Rodriguez ran into the box just as Elis crossed the ball to him for another one touch goal. The homegrown hero was subbed off right after his second goal preventing the chance of him getting a hat trick in the game.

The brace from Memo and goal from Elis were enough to propel the Dynamo past the Whitecaps for back to back victories over teams from Canada. It was a busy game for the Dynamo as they had 21 shots in the game putting six of them on target. By contrast the Whitecaps had just seven shots and three on target. Houston also lead the game in possession with 55.3%.

The Dynamo are off next weekend and then return to action on the road for the first time this season on March 30 to play the Colorado Rapids.

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