Vancouver-Houston preview

Trips to the Lone Star State have never been kind to Vancouver but there could be change in the hot Texas air when the Whitecaps FC square off against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium.

In Vancouver's 10 previous visits to Texas to play Houston and FC Dallas, the Whitecaps have lost every match and have never earned a single point.

"Any game in this league is very difficult," Vancouver coach Carl Robinson said Thursday. "We know that. It's a difficult place to go and play, but we'll be ready."

Vancouver (8-8-5, 28 points) brings a bit of momentum into the match against the Dynamo, earning two wins and two draws in its past five MLS matches and a 2-2 draw on Tuesday in a friendly against English Premier League club Crystal Palace FC.

The Whitecaps have scored nine goals during that period, including two in each of their last three outings, but they're still looking to strengthen their defense.

"We've given up way too many goals," Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted said. "We have the quality to score goals, even away, but going into Houston and Dallas now, two very hot games, we need to manage the game correctly."

The Dynamo (4-9-6, 18 points) enter the weekend at the bottom of the Western Conference table and on the heels of a 1-0 home loss to Dallas on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of U.S. Open Cup competition.

Most of Houston's struggles have come on the road, where it has yet to win a game. At home, they are 4-1-3, earning all but three of its points. The Dynamo have surrendered only three goals in their last four games in all competitions but they have been shut out in three straight matches if you include Wednesday's loss to FC Dallas.

This will be the third and final meeting between Vancouver and Houston this season, with both the previous encounters being held at BC Place. Whitecaps FC opened the season series with a 1-0 win back on March 26 before playing to a 1-1 draw on May 28.