Whitecaps lose to Dynamo in battle for first in MLS Western Conference

VANCOUVER — The red-hot Houston Dynamo climbed to the top of Major League Soccer's Western Conference standings with a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night.

Franco Negri gave the visitors the lead in the 34th minute and the Dynamo (12-6-2) didn't look back, claiming their fifth straight victory in MLS play.

The 'Caps (11-4-4) appeared to score midway through the second half but Rayan Elloumi's goal was called back after video review.

The home side controlled 61.9 per cent of possession across the game and outshot the Dynamo 16-7, but managed just one shot on target.

Vancouver came in sitting first in the conference standings following a 2-0 victory over their regional rival Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

Houston is unbeaten in its last eight contests and has not conceded a goal since battling D.C. United to a 1-1 draw on July 22.

The Dynamo nearly opened the scoring in the 16th minute Wednesday off a free kick in the midfield.

The ball fell in the penalty area and rolled to Hector Herrera, who hammered a shot on target, but 'Caps centre back Mathias Laborda blocked it on the goal line.

Houston had a breakaway later in the half where Laborda poked the ball off the foot of Mateusz Bogusz just above the 18-yard box.

It then popped out to Negri, who fired a long bomb into the top corner of Vancouver's net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.

The Whitecaps got a prime opportunity to respond five minutes later after Agustin Resch was shown a yellow card for taking down Cheikh Sabaly, gifting Vancouver a free kick inside the penalty arc.

Oliver Larraz took the set piece, sending his attempt into Houston's wall.

Sabaly came close to levelling the score in first-half injury time with a shot from the top of the six-yard box that pinged off the left post.

Vancouver controlled 57.3 per cent of possession across the first half and outshot the visitors 5-4, but Houston had the edge in on-target shots at 2-0.