Houston Dynamo at Vancouver Whitecaps player ratings

(image via Houston Dynamo FC)

The Houston Dynamo took over first place in the Western Conference with a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Let’s take a look at how everyone performed.

Starters

Jonathan Bond - 6.5

Bond was only asked to make one save as his defense solved most of Vancouver’s problems. However, he made a few questionable decisions with the ball at his feet that could have been costly. Thankfully, none came back to haunt him.

Lawrence Ennali - 6.5

A composed night from Ennali. Didn’t offer much going forward but handled his defensive responsibilities well.

Lucas Halter - 7

Solid defensive performance from the Brazilian center back. Stayed composed, won his battles, and helped keep Vancouver’s attack quiet.

Agustin Resch - 8

An absolute monster. Resch was dominant defensively and finished with seven headed clearances alone, repeatedly frustrating Vancouver’s attack during the final stretch.

Franco Negri - 7.5

Negri had a strong 75 minutes and capped it with a banger of a goal that proved to be the game-winner. It was a massive contribution before coming off.

Artur - 7.5

Artur was a shield in front of the defense and incredibly smooth with the ball at his feet. His ability to win possession and keep Houston composed was crucial.

Hector Herrera - 7

Another very composed performance from the veteran. Just class from Herrera, who helped Houston manage the tempo and protect its lead.

Agustin Bouzat - 6.5

Bouzat brought that strong Argentine edge we’ve come to expect. He knew when to be aggressive, when to compete and when to ease things down.

Guilherme - 7

A relatively quiet night by his standards, but Guilherme still kept Vancouver’s defense on its toes and provided an outlet whenever Houston needed one.

Jack McGlynn - 7

McGlynn continues to quietly improve his ball management. His chemistry with his teammates is becoming increasingly impressive, and he rarely looks rushed in possession.

Mateusz Bogusz - 7.5

Didn’t see a ton of the ball, but Bogusz stretched the field effectively. His movement helped create the space that eventually led to Negri’s winning goal.

Substitutes

Duncan McGuire - 6.5

Had a chance to make it 2-0 on a late counter, but his effort went straight at the goalkeeper. Otherwise, he provided a physical presence up front.

Marcelo Saracchi - 6.5

A very good defensive performance in his Houston debut. He looked composed and disciplined after coming on.

Diadie Samassekou - 6.5

Positioned himself well to close gaps through the middle, forcing Vancouver to rely more on crosses from the wide areas.

Duane Holmes - 6.5

Made several good defensive plays despite his limited time on the field and helped Houston close out the victory.

Head Coach

Ben Olsen - 8

Olsen once again set his team up for success. The veteran coach understands how to approach a match in Vancouver, and his team put on an art gallery of defending. Negri’s goal allowed Houston to lean even further into its defensive responsibilities, and the Dynamo executed the game plan beautifully to leave Vancouver with all three points.