Houston Dynamo moved top of the Western Conference in MLS with a 2-1 win at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday.

Alberth Elis opened the scoring at BBVA Compass Stadium in Texas before Erick Torres' second-half penalty.

The hosts held on despite Brek Shea coming off the bench to pull a goal back for the Whitecaps late in the clash.

Houston's sixth win in 10 league games saw them go top, while Vancouver stayed sixth.

Dynamo took a 15th-minute lead through Elis, who headed in a cross from fellow Honduran Romell Quioto at the back post.

Elis came off injured on the half-hour mark, but his replacement – Torres – doubled his side's advantage with a 68th-minute penalty.

While Shea headed in a Christian Bolanos set-piece with five minutes remaining, Houston held on.