The Houston Dynamo scored three goals after halftime en route to a 4-0 victory over Orlando City SC in front of 19,292 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday night.
With the win, the Dynamo improved to 5-3-1 on the season (16 points) and remained unbeaten on their home field, improving their record in Houston to 5-0-1. The win was also the first for the Dynamo over Orlando City (6-2-0; 18 pts.), improving their series record against the Lions to 1-1-1.
The starting forward trio of Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto each found the back of the net, with Manotas bagging a brace in the span of 14 minutes in the second half. Midfielder Alex notched a pair of assists to put himself back in a tie for the league lead, while Quioto had a goal and an assist. Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis kept his second clean sheet in three weeks and the Dynamo back line extended its home shutout streak to 211 minutes.
The Dynamo opened the scoring first in the 23rd minute when Elis received a pass from defender A.J. DeLaGarza on the right sideline. La Panterita dribbled the ball past Orlando defender Donny Toia and prowled inside the 18-yard box, blasting a shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner.
In the 51st minute, Alex went down the left side and sent a low pass to the center of the box. Manotas took a first-touch shot to the center of the goal, and although Orlando goalkeeper Joe Bendik got a foot to it, he was unable to stop the shot.
After clearing a corner kick in the 65th minute, Alex found Quioto in the left side. Quioto showed off his speed and outran the Orlando defense before sending a ball into the box. Manotas was coming through the center of the box and received Quioto’s low cross. After controlling the ball with right foot, Manotas used the same foot to send the ball off the right post and into the back of the net.
Quioto found the net himself 14 minutes later when Manotas hit him with a long ball down the wing. Quioto collected the ball and ran at the Orlando back line before curling a right-footed shot into the upper right corner of the goal from the top of the penalty area.
Prior to the game, the Dynamo and BBVA Compass Stadium celebrated the three millionth fan to pass through the gates at the stadium. Mike Duncan, along with his wife Angie and their young son Connor, was treated to a confetti shower, music and a VIP seat upgrade after passing through the gates shortly before 7 p.m. CDT.
The Dynamo will continue the 2017 season, presented by 76, on Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m. CDT against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BBVA Compass Stadium, on a night that will mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of the stadium (TICKETS).
Houston Dynamo (5-3-1; 16 pts.) vs. Orlando City SC (6-2-0; 18 pts.)
MLS Week 10
May 6, 2017 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Alberth Elis 4 (A.J. DeLaGarza 1) 23
HOU: Mauro Manotas 2 (Alex 5) 51
HOU: Mauro Manotas 3 (Romell Quioto 1, Alex 6) 65
HOU: Romell Quioto 4 (Mauro Manotas 1) 79
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley ©; Mauro Manotas, Juan David Cabezas, Eric Alexander (Ricardo Clark 9); Alex (Boniek GarcÃa 73); Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto (Vicente Sánchez 79)
Unused Substitutes: Tyler Deric, Kevin Garcia, Andrew Wenger, Jalil Anibaba
Total shots: 15 (Mauro Manotas 5); Shots on goal: 10 (Alberth Elis 3); Fouls: 18 (Leonardo, Ricardo Clark 3); Offside: 1 (Mauro Manotas 1); Corner kicks: 5 (Alex 2); Saves: 4
Orlando City SC: Joe Bendik; Scott Sutter, Tommy Redding, José Aja, Donny Toia; MatÃas Pérez GarcÃa, Antonio Nocerino (Kaká 58), Luis Gil; Will Johnson © (Cristian Higuita 71); Cyle Larin, Giles Barnes (Carlos Rivas 58)
Unused Substitutes: Victor Pagliari Giro, Léo Pereira, Josh Saunders, Servando Carrasco
Total shots: 9 (Luis Gil 3); Shots on goal: 4 (Luis Gil 2); Fouls: 12 (Donny Toia 4); Offside: 2 (Cyle Larin, MatÃas Pérez GarcÃa 1); Corner kicks: 4 (MatÃas Pérez GarcÃa 2); Saves: 6
Discipline:
HOU: Romell Quioto caution (not retreating) 45+3
HOU: A.J. DeLaGarza caution (persistent infringement) 60
ORL: Donny Toia caution (persistent infringement) 79
HOU: Adolfo Machado caution (foul) 84
OFFICIALS
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Rottersman
Assistant Referee 2: Jeff Muschik
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
