[ad_1]
In a route we’re hoping is saved strictly to journey and never standings, the Vancouver Whitecaps (2-Three-1) head additional south this night with the hopes of selecting up factors and ending their shedding skid towards the all the time difficult-at-home Houston Dynamo (2-2-2).
The place: BBVA Stadium, Houston, TX
When: Saturday, Might 22nd at 6 pm PST
How: TSN1, TSN4, (TV); AM730 (Radio); ESPN+ (Web)
Each golf equipment are coming off lopsided street losses from final weekend. We’re already accustomed to the tough outing the ‘Caps suffered by on the fingers toes of Sporting Kansas Metropolis, however Houston had their very own tough go of it in a Three-1 loss to Colorado.
As a result of they by no means confronted off throughout final yr’s COVID-shortened season, we have now to go all the best way again to 2019 to recap the final Whitecaps/Dynamo matches. Of their two video games that season, the house sides have been the victors, pulling off one-goal triumphs after conceding early leads.
Match #1 occurred in mid-March and was largely a terrorization of the Whitecaps by Alberth Elis. The Honduran winger arrange Memo Rodriguez for a tap-in earlier than closing out the primary half by changing a penalty. Fredy Montero slotted a PK of his personal whereas Lass Bangoura levelled shortly after half time, nevertheless it was Elis and Rodriguez once more to shut it out, with the previous organising the latter for a second tap-in to seal it at Three-2.
The return match at BC Place got here in September when, as soon as once more, Houston would go on to out-shoot (18 to five), out-chance (1.7 xG to 1.2), and out-possess (53/47) the Whitecaps, although have been solely rewarded with a fortuitous purpose at 78’ from Mauro Manotas. The striker pounced on a shot from distance spilled by Zac MacMath, levelling a PK transformed by Hwang In-beom earlier within the half. The match seemed to be headed for a draw, have been it not for some ninetieth minute magic from Montero, who was in a position to corral a brief lob from Theo Bair and half-volley it dwelling.
Historical past is each for and towards the Whitecaps of their head-to-head with the Dynamo. All-time, Vancouver leads the collection, Eight-5-Three, however solely a kind of wins has ever come at BBVA Stadium, the place the Whitecaps are 1-5-1.
Trying on the desk, Houston have been doing customary Houston issues, getting outcomes at dwelling and struggling defeats on the street. Six matches will all the time be a small pattern measurement, nevertheless it’s value noting that the house and away information for the Dynamo to this point are 2-Zero-1 and Zero-2-1 respectively, with a GF/GA of four/2 at dwelling and three/6 on the street.
The divide between dwelling and away performances is much more obtrusive when evaluating their Anticipated Objectives. Granted, their xGA is bigger regardless of the place they play, however at dwelling their xG to xGA is Three.four/four.Three, in comparison with 2.Eight/5.Eight on the street.
Clearly, they’re taking advantage of their possibilities at dwelling when their Anticipated Aim differential is -Zero.9, so the place do their strengths lie when their xGA is a lot increased than their precise objectives allowed?
I can’t say with certainty there’s a correlation right here, however it seems that Houston’s defensive energy is of their means to shut down on the ball of their last third. At successful price of 31.Three%, the Dynamo are one of many strongest Pressuring groups within the league this season, whereas additionally rating first in Blocks regardless of sitting within the backside half for Tackles. That strain success price grows to 34% when enjoying at dwelling.
Why that price is bigger when the Dynamo play at dwelling might come all the way down to ways, as within the membership are instructed to dial it again when enjoying on the street. Positive, that may work, however it will probably additionally end in a Three-1 trouncing in Colorado.
Nonetheless, it seems that Houston’s defensive strengths come from having the ability to strain ball carriers, getting our bodies in the best way rapidly with out going to floor for tackles. If they will disrupt or dispossess rapidly, they are going to be ruthless in forcing poor pictures or turnovers.
There’s solely a smattering of absentees for Saturday, with Vancouver holding the vast majority of probably unavailable gamers.
Ali Adnan continues to be unavailable for the Whitecaps, although the official cause this week is “Worldwide Obligation,” because the left again has joined the Iraqi Nationwide Group for friendlies forward of their World Cup qualifiers in June. As for accidents, Andy Rose (adductor), Bruno Gaspar (knee), and Jake Nerwinski (knee) all listed as Questionable on the MLS Damage Report, which suggests we’ll see some modifications to the backline this weekend.
With each proper backs tending wounds, we’ll more than likely see Javain Brown make his first MLS begin, on the heels of his debut look final week. I additionally wouldn’t be stunned if final week’s 80th minute cameo of Erik Godoy was a teaser for the Argentine middle again beginning this week.
If that’s the case, does he change Ranko Veselinovic or Derek Cornelius within the middle? Is it potential we’ll see all three middle backs within the beginning eleven? Or will we naked witness to the rarest lineup of all of them, with Godoy at proper again?
My guess: Corny is on the bench, with Erik and Ranko within the center.
Vancouver – Crépeau; Gutierrez, Veselinovic, Godoy, Brown; Caicedo, Baldisimo, Bikel, Dajome; Alexandre, Cavallini
For the Dynamo, the injured record is way shorter, as solely Tyler Pasher stays Questionable (decrease physique), probably lacking his third match in a row.
For my cash, I’m guessing skipper Tab Ramos runs the identical eleven that held at bay the identical SKC aspect that torched the Whitecaps final week.
Houston – Maric; Lundqvist, Barcia, Parker, Valentin; Corona, Jones, Vera; Rodriguez, Urruti, Picault
Whoever Can Get Into the Penalty Space
Of the six open play objectives scored by Houston to this point this season, all have come from contained in the penalty space, with just one being from some type of distance (this just-inside-the-line, nutmegging, far put up worm-burner from Christian Ramirez final week). However apart from that outlier, the Dynamo have scored a majority of their objectives by ramming the ball up the middle of the pitch or by turning crossed balls within the internet from lower than ten yards away. Whether or not its Memo, Fafa Picault, or Max Urruti, there’s going to be somebody close by that’s fleet of foot making an over-the-shoulder run.
So what does that imply for the Whitecaps? Ball markers might want to jockey as greatest as potential, take away passing lanes so nothing can slip by, and have your middle backs be able to step up rapidly. No Houston participant needs to be afforded any time to function contained in the Whitecap penalty space. Shut all of it down earlier than the Dynamo can break by.
For starters, Vancouver virtually by no means will get a end in Houston. The matches are all the time entertaining, typically irritating (for the blue and white), however seldom do they ever go in favor of the Whitecaps when enjoying at BBVA.
The one time it did? We bore witness to the rarities of Kei Kamara scoring his 100th purpose and Brek Shea scoring a purpose. As for the one different time Vancouver earned factors in Houston, Tim Parker was anchoring the backline, the identical Tim Parker who I’m sure shall be knocking Whitecaps crosses out of the air all night.
Issue within the aforementioned resolute victory the Dynamo had at dwelling over SKC ten days in the past, and I’m offered on this one being a 2-1 Houston victory.
The excellent news is that I’ve solely been proper on one in every of these prediction this yr, so take my opinions with the grainiest of salts, and sidle up with the a lot cheerier outcomes the remainder of our workers foresee this weekend. At the very least we’re all on the identical web page in considering that Vancouver will solely get one purpose.
However to up the ante, I promise I’ll do a shot of tequila for every open play purpose scored by the Whtiecaps on Saturday throughout our subsequent roundtable.
Eighty Six Eternally Group Predictions
Andrew: 1-Zero VAN
Caleb: 1-1 Draw
Luis: 1-Zero VAN
Sam: 1-1 Draw
Officers:
Referee: David Gantar; AR1: Frank Anderson; AR2: Matthew Nelson; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Alejandro Mariscal; AVAR: Jeff Muschik.
[ad_2]
Source link
