Mauro Manotas hat trick magic leads Houston Dynamo in 3-1
For weeks interim head coach Wade Barrett told anyone that would listen that it was just a matter of time till the young Columbian Mauro Manotas striker would get his moment in the spotlight. On August 14, 2016, the 21 year old made his first MLS start and delivered an assist. Fast forward six games and the striker repaid the faith shown by Barrett scoring three goals in a 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
His first goal of the night came on a penalty conversion in the 34th minute. A Collen Warner shot deflected off a Portland defender bringing about the penalty kick. Timbers defender Steven Taylor attempted to distract the young Columbian as he set the ball on the spot but to no avail.
“To be honest, I didn’t understand what was said. It was in English,” Manotas said a happy and confident striker in his postgame press conference. “That and I was focused on the penalty kick.”
Portland found the equalizer for the third time in as many games against the Dynamo early in the second half but then Manotas went to work putting his scoring magic to work. His goal in the 73rd minute gave Houston the lead for good. Boniek Garcia’s assist on the play was his ninth of the season placing him eighth on the all-time Dynamo single season assist record. Only former Dynamo captain Brad Davis (16) has recorded more in a single season.
Manotas sealed the hat trick and the win in the 85th minnute. Second half sub Cristian Maidana set the young striker through behind the Portland defense and he delivered the goal that put him in the record books beside Houston legends Brian Ching, Will Bruin and Brad Davis.
“I am happy to be on that list,” continued Manotas who became the sixth player with a hat trick in Dynamo history. “I have a goal scorer’s mentality so I definitely want to be on that kind of list. I am very happy we were able to walk way with three points.”
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Ironically, Bruin who recorded the last hat trick in franchise history on April 29, 2011 replaced Mauro Manotas following the goal.
Manotas’ magic led Houston to its first back-to-back winsof the season and left Portland as the only MLS side without a road win in 2016.
Houston (7-11-11) with five matches remaining pulled to within three points of seventh place Seattle and nine points shy of Portland who holds the final playoff berth.
The Dynamo return to action on Friday September 30th against Eastern Conference foe NYFC. Kick-off is set for 6:45p.m.
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