2017 MLS Playoffs, Houston Dynamo vs Portland Timbers: Houston Dynamo advance to the Western Conference Finals

Sunday night, the Houston Dynamo faced off against the Portland Timbers in a game that would determine who would face the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Final. The two teams faced each other in Houston on Monday for the first leg of the home-and-away series. The game ended with a 0-0 draw between the two when neither was able to find an edge and the back of the net.

There were a number of injuries for Portland in the game but both teams lost additional players since the Monday game. The Dynamo were without goalkeeper Tyler Deric and left back DaMarcus Beasley for the game on Sunday after Beasley injured his right quad during training on Saturday with Dylan Remick starting in his place. The Timbers were without Roy Miller who ruptured his Achilles in training on Saturday.

The Timbers started the game strong, however, nine minutes into the game Darren Mattocks left the game after being hit in the head when going up for the ball. A few minutes later Jeremy Ebobisse came on in his place.

Cubo Torres had his shot at the net in the 17th minute but Jeff Attinella was able to get a glove on it. Tomas Martinez set up the shot after he dribble around the Timbers defense and passed the ball to Torres. Since Attinella got a glove on the shot it went out for a Dynamo corner which the goal keeper was able to grab. Powell got loose on the counter attack but his cross was cleared out.

Alberth Elis nearly gave the Dynamo a lead in the 29th minute of the game. Houston was awarded a free kick after Asprilla fouled Remick from behind. The free kick was cleared out by Portland but the ball was eventually booted back into the box. Elis got his head on it but the ball went just wide of the net.

In the 39th minute Vytautas Andriuskevicius ran down the side of the field crossing the ball to Dairon Asprilla to set him up in the box. Remick slipped on the play giving Asprilla time to take one touch and then blasted the shot past Joe Willis to put Portland up 1-0. But the Portland lead would only last for four minutes.

After the Dynamo were awarded a free kick it was taken by Martinez after the kick was taken the ball was headed down by Anibaba. Remick ran in on the ball and hit a rising shot. Attinella went up, stretched out to try and stop the ball as it went to the upper corner but he was unable to get a glove to it. Tied at 1-1 it meant that Houston would advance to the next round if the score line held.

But it was second half substitute Mauro Manotas who sealed the game in Houston’s favor. Manotas scored on a long range shot from over 25 yards out to give Houston a 2-1 lead in the 77th minute.

As the clock hit 90 it was announced that there would be eight minutes of stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough for the Timbers to come back as the 2-1 lead held and Houston walked away victorious.

Houston will now face the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Final. The first leg will be in Houston on Tuesday November 21 and the second will be in Seattle on November 30.

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