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Their one spell of dominant possession — 75 per cent in the between 30 and the 35th minute mark — ended with Fredy Montero earning, then converting, a penalty kick for the 1-1 goal. Lass Bangoura’s 53rd minute goal, which tied the game at 2-2, also came on a possession surge of 57 per cent. But it was Houston’s game for most of the day, one that could have been over early after the Dynamo missed two golden chances in the first half.

Of the three goals conceded Saturday, one came off an egregious turnover by Cornelius, one by controversial penalty (is there any other with the Whitecaps?), and one by a dynamic Dynamo give-and-go that carved up the Vancouver defence. The Caps have been punished this season by three terrible turnovers in their own third and three penalty kicks, with only Memo Rodriguez’s 3-2 goal Saturday the only one that wasn’t self-inflicted.

“I don’t think the goals we conceded had much to do tactically in the first half, it was much more decision making that brought us to be down at the half,” said Dos Santos, who rolled out a 3-4-2-1 formation for the first time this season.

“I think it was a lot by pockets (of good play),” Dos Santos said. “We had good pockets against Minnesota. And then our second half against Salt Lake was good. And then again today, we had good pockets. Of course, you feel that there’s more and more in the team growing, but if you want to make points, you can’t concede the way we concede.”

He’s hoping the glitches that have thrown them out of rhythm in the game can be fixed during the two weeks before the Caps host the Seattle Sounders. One of the most glaring areas of need has been at left back — all three Houston goals started from the left — and incoming Iraqi left back Ali Adnan should stabilize that position.