Whitecaps host Dynamo in battle of hot squads

The Vancouver Whitecaps look for their third consecutive victory on Saturday night when they host a Houston Dynamo side going in search of back-to-back away wins in a potential Western Conference playoff preview.

Fafa Picault's 76th-minute tally lifted Vancouver (11-7-5, 38 points) to a 2-1 home win over Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday night to lift the Whitecaps up to fourth in a crowded West table.

Vancouver is unbeaten with four wins in its last five matches and is eight points behind the West-leading LA Galaxy with two matches in hand.

Brian White did not score against SKC after scoring seven of his team-best 12 goals in the previous five games. And the Whitecaps will play seven of their last 11 league matches at home.

"For sure we're going to finish in the top four if we keep playing like this at home," said Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini. "We are already in the top four with games in hand. So that's what we need to do. The thing is that it's hard."

Houston (9-7-7, 34 points) has also played only 23 matches following its 1-0 win at San Jose on Wednesday night -- a game decided by a late winner from substitute Daniel Steres.

The Dynamo begin the weekend in eighth and in possession of the top wild-card spot in the West. Ben Olsen's team has lost only once in its last nine (4-1-4) and will likely see summer signing Ezequiel Ponce make his debut after the league's secondary transfer window opened on Thursday.

Ponce scored 15 times for AEK Athens in the recently concluded 2023-24 Greece Super League season. Ibrahim Aliyu currently leads the Dynamo with six goals.

"In order to get more points, it's important for us to be greedy and selfish," Olsen said after Wednesday's match. "It's a quick turnaround, and we will need the depth. Fortunately, we have some options, and one of them is Ezequiel Ponce. We put a lot of focus into tonight's game, and tomorrow we will start working on Vancouver."

--Field Level Media