The Houston Dynamo extended the best start to a season in club history with a 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers FC tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium. With the draw, the Dynamo gained their 20th point on the season in just their 10th match, which equals 2013 squad for the best 10-game start in club history.
The club also welcomed back captain and left back DaMarcus Beasley. The U.S. Men’s National Team legend missed the first nine games of the season with a knee injury sustained in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League before putting in a full 90-minute shift this evening.
Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas gave Houston the lead off a corner kick in the 40th minute. Dynamo Academy product Memo Rodriguez found Alberth Elis inside the box and his header found the Colombian international at the back post for his sixth goal of the season.
With the goal, the 41st of his career, Manotas tied former Dynamo MF Brad Davis for third on the club’s all-time scoring list in league play. The forward has now scored eight goals in nine career appearances against the Timbers, including the postseason.
Timbers forward Brian Fernández equalized in the second half for Portland off a cross from Sebastian Blanco in the 77th minute. The second-half substitute controlled the ball and poked it just past an oncoming Joe Willis.
Although it took until nearly halftime for Manotas to open the scoring, each team came within inches of scoring on multiple occasions.
Elis and Tomás MartÃnez connected with a one-two at the edge of the box in the 12th minute and the Honduran international forced a save from Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. Four minutes later, Blanco hit the crossbar four minutes later with a shot from outside the box.
In the 25th, Rodriguez picked Renzo Zambrano’s pocket outside the penalty area and took one touch before rifling a curling right-footed shot that bent just outside of the far post. Timbers forward Jeremy Ebobisse got behind the Dynamo back line in the 28th minute, but his one-touch effort off a cross from Blanco slid just wide of the near post.
After Portland’s equalizer, Houston pressed for the game-winning goal throughout the final 13 minutes and into stoppage, with substitute Romell Quioto creating several dangerous chances. The Honduran international, who came on in the 82nd minute, finished with four shots, three of which were on target, in his brief shift. Unfortunately for the home side, Attinella was up to the task each time, allowing the Timbers to snatch a point on the night,
The Dynamo return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, May 18 to host Wayne Rooney and D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. for Superhero Night, presented by Greater Houston Honda Dealers. Tickets for Saturday’s match are available online at HoustonDynamo.com or by phone at 713-276-4625 (GOAL).
