The Houston Dynamo succeeded in their first of three back-to-back home matches Saturday night by defeating current MLS Champions Portland Timbers, 3-1, in front of a crowd of 19,404 people.

“Three points at home, we came back from this last road game with a lot of confidence,” said Dynamo interim head coach Wade Barrett.

The first minutes of the game were uneven for both teams. While both teams were looking for spaces to generate some movement up top, they were denied by the solid back lines of their opponents.

Houston’s Raul Rodriguez had the first clear chance of the game in the 16th minute when he managed to make contact with the ball following a free kick from Boniek Garcia. The ball passed inches wide from the left post.

The first goal did not arrive until the 33rd minute when Dynamo striker Mauro Manotas scored via penalty kick with a clean low shot that ended on the right side of Portland’s goalkeeper, Jake Gleeson, who dove to the right. The PK came after the referee called a handball from Liam Ridgewell- who slid in attempt to block a shot from Dynamo midfielder Collen Warner.

2 minutes after the goal, Dynamo had another opportunity. Alex was looking to score for his fourth game in a row with a left-footed shot, yet the ball went just wide of the right post.

The first half ended with a dominating home team.

It would not take the Timbers long before they scored the equalizer- their second opportunity of the second half. It was in the 51st minute when Diego Valeri knocked the ball inside after it was deflected off the post by a shot from Darren Mattocks.

The match became centralized after the goal- the home team backing off while Portland pushed a little more.

Fortunately for Dynamo, they scored a goal that turned things around.

“I thought the response after we gave up the goal at the beginning of the second half was excellent. I thought the players made a good adjustment on the field and we were clinical,” said Barrett.

Manotas made himself present on the scoreboard again in the 73rd minute after taking a forceful first-time shot following a low cross from Garcia.

He had his third opportunity of the match in the 82nd but did not manage to connect the ball appropriately and ended in the hands of Gleeson.

Revenge is sweet.

Manotas went on a one-on-one against Gleeson following a through ball from “Chaco” Maidana and scored a hat trick in the 85th minute to seal things off.

The Dynamo ended dominating the last minutes and took the win, 3-1.

“The motivation that we get when we win is incredible, now imagine when we get to score, much more, and when you score a hat trick the obligation for next week is bigger,” said Dynamo striker Mauro Manotas.

Houston will host NYFC on their next match to be played Friday, September 30.

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