The Houston Dynamo saw their unbeaten start to the 2017 season come to an end with a 4-2 loss to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park tonight. The loss dropped the Dynamo’s record to 2-1-0 on the year.
After conceding the opening goal on a penalty in the 11th minute, Houston led at halftime 2-1 thanks to a goals from forwards Erick Torres and Romell Quioto late in the half. Portland rallied for three goals in the second half in front of a rowdy crowd to emerge with the win.
Portland midfielder David Guzmán collected an unsuccessful clearance attempt in the 66th minute and dribbled through traffic before beating Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric for the game-winning goal.
The game started out at a frenetic pace, as both teams traded dangerous chances within the first two minutes. Midfielder Diego Valeri fired wide of goal for Portland and forward Alberth Elis did the same for the Dynamo seconds later.
In the 10th minute, midfielder Sebastian Blanco attempted a cross that hit in defender DaMarcus Beasley in the arm and referee Allen Chapman awarded a penalty kick to the home team. Valeri drove his shot from the penalty spot to the center of the goal, putting the Dynamo behind for first time on the season.
The Dynamo created several chances after the goal, but were unable to break through until the 38th minute on a penalty kick of their own. Torres took a free kick from outside the 18-yard box and his shot struck the hand of Portland midfielder Diego Chara and a penalty kick was awarded to the Dynamo. Torres confidently shot the ball to the bottom left corner, past a diving effort from Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
As the first half was coming to an end, Elis broke through on the right side, driving into the penalty area before sending a low cross to Quioto. After controlling the ball, Quioto calmly sent the ball to the back of the net from five yards out.
Torres and Quioto became the seventh and eighth players in Dynamo history to score at least one goal in three consecutive matches, each matching the longest such streak in team history.
The Timbers opened the second half pressing the Dynamo defense. In the 58th minute, defender Zarek Valentin sent a cross from the left side to the center of the box. Valeri was coming in and connected on a diving header, sending the ball to the right post and equalizing the score, 2-2.
With the Dynamo pressing for an equalizer late, Portland forward Fanendo Adi fought off two Dynamo defenders and beat an onrushing Deric to seal the win for the home team.
The Dynamo are off next weekend while five players are on will continue the 2017 season, presented by 76, on Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. CST against New York Red Bulls at BBVA Compass Stadium (TICKETS).
Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
MLS Regular Season
March 18, 2017 – Providence Park, Portland, Oregon
Scoring Summary:
POR: Diego Valeri 3 (penalty kick) 10
HOU: Erick Torres 3 (penalty kick) 38
HOU: Romell Quioto 3 (Alberth Elis 1) 45+2
POR: Diego Valeri 4 (Zarek Valentin 1, Fanendo Adi 1) 58
POR: David Guzmán 1 (unassisted) 66
POR: Fanendo Adi 3 (David Guzmán 1) 88
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley; Ricardo Clark© (Boniek GarcÃa 72), Juan David Cabezas, Alex; Alberth Elis (Andrew Wenger 72), Erick Torres (Mauro Manotas 84), Romell Quito
Unused Substitutes: Calle Brown, Joseph Holland, Vicente Sánchez, Jalil Anibaba
Total shots: 12 (Alex 4); Shots on goal: 6 (Romell Quioto, Erick Torres 2); Fouls: 8 (DaMarcus Beasley, Ricardo Clark 2); Offside: 1 (Romell Quioto 1); Corner kicks: 3 (Alex 2); Saves: (Tyler Deric 2)
Portland Timbers: Jake Gleeson; Alvas Powell, Lawrence Olum, Roy Miller, Zarek Valentin; David Guzmán, Diego Chara; Sebastián Blanco, Diego Valeri ©, Darlington Nagbe; Fanendo Adi
Unused Substitutes: Jeff Attinella, Chance Myers, Darren Mattocks, Ben Zemanski, Amobi Okugo, Jack Barmby, Dairon Asprilla
Total shots: 17 (Fanendo Adi 5); Shots on goal: 7 (Fanendo Adi 4); Fouls: 8 (David Guzmán 2); Offside: 1 (Fanendo Adi 1); Corner kicks: 5 (Sebastián Blanco 4); Saves: 4 (Jake Gleeson 4)
Discipline:
POR: David Guzmán caution (foul) 20
POR: Roy Miller (foul) 32
POR: Sebastian Blanco caution (dissent) 37
POR: Diego Chara (handball) 37
HOU: Erick Torres caution (dissent) 39
POR: Darlington Nagbe (time wasting) 76
OFFICIALS
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Manikowski
Assistant Referee 2: Jeffrey Hosking
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
