Whitecaps score early, often in 6-2 victory over Dynamo
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, center, tries to fight past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas, left, as Julian Gressel looks on during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu, front, avoids Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Mathias Laborda during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi, left, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathias Laborda, center, and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, slides to take the ball away from Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, and Houston Dynamo FC’s Franco Escobar compete for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka tries to make a save against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Daniel Steres, left, gets his head on the ball while Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White watches during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi receives a pass before scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Javain Brown, right, flicks the ball past Houston Dynamo’s Micael during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, right, tries to break away from Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite, right, and Houston Dynamo’s Micael compete for a head ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Luis Martins, right, reaches for Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla while trying to slow him down during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite gets his head on the ball next to Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, center, tries to fight past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas, left, as Julian Gressel looks on during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, center, tries to fight past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas, left, as Julian Gressel looks on during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu, front, avoids Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Mathias Laborda during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu, front, avoids Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Mathias Laborda during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi, left, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathias Laborda, center, and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi, left, kicks the ball past Vancouver Whitecaps’ Mathias Laborda, center, and goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka for a goal during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, slides to take the ball away from Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, slides to take the ball away from Houston Dynamo’s Ibrahim Aliyu during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, and Houston Dynamo FC’s Franco Escobar compete for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Alessandro Schopf, left, and Houston Dynamo FC’s Franco Escobar compete for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka tries to make a save against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka tries to make a save against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Daniel Steres, left, gets his head on the ball while Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White watches during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Daniel Steres, left, gets his head on the ball while Vancouver Whitecaps’ Brian White watches during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi receives a pass before scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Amine Bassi receives a pass before scoring a goal against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Javain Brown, right, flicks the ball past Houston Dynamo’s Micael during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Javain Brown, right, flicks the ball past Houston Dynamo’s Micael during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, right, tries to break away from Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla, right, tries to break away from Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite celebrates after scoring a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite, right, and Houston Dynamo’s Micael compete for a head ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite, right, and Houston Dynamo’s Micael compete for a head ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Luis Martins, right, reaches for Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla while trying to slow him down during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Luis Martins, right, reaches for Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla while trying to slow him down during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite gets his head on the ball next to Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Pedro Vite gets his head on the ball next to Houston Dynamo’s Coco Carrasquilla during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Pedro Vite scored in the first minute, Julian Gressel added two goals and the Vancouver Whitecaps roughed up the Houston Dynamo 6-2 on Wednesday night.
Vite scored his third goal of the season, using an assist from Brian White to give Vancouver (5-5-5) a very early lead.
Corey Baird scored the equalizer for Houston (5-6-3) seven minutes later. Adalberto Carrasquilla and Amine Bassi had assists on Baird’s first goal this season. Bassi used an assist from Daniel Steres to score his sixth goal, giving the Dynamo a 2-1 lead in the 16th minute.
The lead lasted until Gressel took a pass from Ryan Gauld and scored two minutes later and it remained tied at 2 at halftime.
The Whitecaps grabbed the lead in the first minute of the second half on White’s sixth goal of the season, unassisted.
Gressel added his second score of the night and third of the season, unassisted in the 59th minute. Sebastian Berhalter scored unassisted in the 88th minute for his first goal this season to make it 5-2. Gauld completed the scoring in the fifth minute of stoppage time, using assists from Berhalter and Déiber Caicedo to score his first goal of the year.
Yohei Takaoka finished with three saves for the Whitecaps. Steve Clark saved one shot for the Dynamo, who had not allowed multiple goals in any of their last eight matches. One more would have tied the club record set in 2016.
The Whitecaps improve to 9-0-3 all-time at home against Houston. Vancouver has the only road win in 22 meetings, a 2-1 victory in 2018. The Whitecaps are 22-6-6 at home since returning to BC Place in August of 2021. That ties Los Angeles FC for the most home wins over that span.
Houston travels to play St. Louis City on Saturday. Vancouver remains home to host Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
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