Vancouver Whitecaps defender Sam Adekugbe, left, kicks away as Houston Dynamo defender Erik Sviatchenko, center right, tries to block as midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk looks on during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Brian White scores second-half goal, earns Whitecaps 1-1 draw with Dynamo
HOUSTON (AP) — Brian White scored in the second half to rally the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night.
Houston (12-9-8) took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Ezequiel Ponce scored on a penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Ponce’s third goal this season came after Amine Bassi drew a foul on Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite following a video review. It was Ponce’s sixth career appearance, all starts.
Vancouver (13-8-7) scored the equalizer in the 73rd minute when White, who entered in the 60th, used assists from Fafá Picault and Ryan Gauld to find the net for the 13th time this season. Picault’s assist was his fifth, matching his career high for a single season. Gauld’s assist gives him a career-best 13 on the season.
Yohei Takaoka, who had clean sheets in his last three starts, finished with one save in goal for the Whitecaps.
Steve Clark saved three shots for the Dynamo, who remain one point behind Vancouver in the Western Conference standings.
Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, left, and Houston Dynamo midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk (27) battle for a header during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston, which was coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, has allowed just 33 goals this season.
Vancouver — 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches overall — leads the all-time series 10-9-6.
The Whitecaps remain on the road to play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. The Dynamo travel to play Austin FC on Saturday.
Houston Dynamo midfielder Artur, left, is blocked out by Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Fafa Picault (11) during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Dynamo midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk, bottom left, falls backwards as he traps the ball while trying to block Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite, center, as midfielder Andres Cubas, left, and midfielder Amine Bassi, right, look on during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld, left, has the ball kicked away by Houston Dynamo midfielder Griffin Dorsey, during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, center right, falls after kicking away in front of Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Pedro Vite, center left, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, top, jumps over Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, bottom as Takaoka makes the save on the shot-on-goal by Aliyu during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, top, jumps over Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka, bottom as Takaoka makes the save on the shot-on-goal by Aliyu during the first half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Houston Dynamo defender Franco Escobar, left, blocks out Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Vancouver Whitecaps forward Brian White, left, kicks a goal past Houston Dynamo defender Franco Escobar (2) and Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Fafa Picault, center, brings down the ball between Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, left, and midfielder Griffin Dorsey, right, during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf, left, and defender Edier Ocampo, center, walk with forward Brian White, right, as he celebrates his goal against the Houston Dynamo during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
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