Mauro Manotas and Philippe Senderos score late, forging a 2-2 Houston Dynamo draw

With 18 second half stoppage time goals in the 2018 World Cup is it any wonder that the Houston Dynamo forged an electrifying 2-2 draw with two second half stoppage time goals of their own. In a span of two minutes, Houston turned what appeared to be an almost certain loss into a draw on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. Dominated from the opening whistle, the home side appeared beaten until Mauro Manotas and Philippe Senderos generated a heroic ending on Military Appreciation Night.

“This effort showed our character,” said Senderos following the match. “This is our home and we will do everything to defend it.”

The Dynamo had a tough time keeping track of LAFC attackers which played a key role Houston being down two heading into stoppage time. Latif Blessing’s first half goal was the result of a speedy little forward sneaking behind the Dynamo defense and beating keeper Joe Willis before anyone had time to react. In the 72nd minute, it was Mark-Anthony Kaye beating the defense and Willis again.

Down 2-0 and LAFC clearly on their way to a sixth road win of the season, Houston finally began to create the opportunities that a fan base had waited for through a 90 minute rain delay and then nearly another 90 minutes of play. As LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller turned away one shot another, Mauro Manotas solved him in the 94th minute cutting the deficit in half. For the young Colombian striker, it was his his third consecutive match with a goal and moved him into sixth place on the Dynamo’s all-time scoring list.

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Romell Quioto hustling down a ball on the endline lead to a corner in the 96th minute. The subsequent corner bounced off the back of Alberth Elis and came to the left foot of the tall Swede Senderos. His volley deflected off of Kaye and into the net leveling the match. How fitting that the second MLS goal for the 33 year old defender and three time Swedish World Cup captain came on the day that Sweden advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2018 World Cup.

“We did not give up,” concluded Senderos. “We turned it up. We came back and grabbed the goal at the end to get the point.”

Houston (6-4-6) returns to action on Saturday night July 7, 2018 hosting Minnesota United at BBVA Compass stadium. Kick-off is set for 8:00 pm CT.