Trailing by two goals in the second half, the Portland Timbers staged a huge rally for a dramatic 3-2 win over the Houston Dynamo in a nationally televised Western Conference matchup.
After Lucas Melano sliced Houston’s lead in half in the 64th minute, Diego Valeri buried two penalty kicks after David Horst was whistled for a handball in the box and goalkeeper Joe Willis– a halftime sub for Tyler Deric – was called for a disputed penalty on Melano.
Andrew Wenger and Will Bruin scored within two minutes of each other in the first half – both assisted by Boniek García – to give Houston an unlikely advantage on the road before Portland came from behind to remain unbeaten in their last five.
Houston Dynamo (3-8-5; 14 points) vs. Portland Timbers (6-6-5; 23 points)
MLS Regular Season
June 26, 2016 – Providence Park – Portland, Oregon
Attendance: 21,144
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Andrew Wenger 4 (Boniek Garcia 4) 28
HOU: Will Bruin 4 (Boniek Garcia 5) 30
POR: Lucas Melano 2 (Diego Valeri 5) 64
POR: Diego Valeri 6 (penalty) 82
POR: Diego Valeri 7 (penalty) 90+1
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric (Joe Willis 46); Jalil Anibaba, David Horst, Raul Rodriguez, DaMarcus Beasley ©; Ricardo Clark, Collen Warner, Alex Lima; Andrew Wenger (Cristián Maidana 75), Will Bruin (Mauro Manotas 84), Boniek Garcia
Unused substitutes: Agus Garcia, David Rocha, Sheanon Williams, Leonel Miranda
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Will Bruin 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Will Bruin 2); FOULS: 11 (Raul Rodriguez 3); OFFSIDES: 1 (Alex 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Boniek Garcia 3); SAVES: 6 (Tyler Deric and Joe Willis tied with 3)
Portland Timbers: Jake Gleeson; Jermaine Taylor, Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers, Alvas Powell (Zarek Valentin 66); Ben Zemansku, Diego Chara; Darren Mattocks (Jack McInerney 71), Diego Valeri (Jack Jewsbury 90+2), Lucas Melano; Fanendo Adi
Unused substitutes: Wade Hamilton, Ned Grabavoy, Back Barmby, Dairon Asprilla
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Diego Valeri 7); SHOTS ON GOAL: 9 (Diego Valeri 4); FOULS: 16 (Diego Chara 5); OFFSIDES: 2 (Jermaine Taylor and Fanendo Adi tied with 1); CORNER KICKS: 6 (Diego Valeri 6); SAVES: 4 (Jake Gleeson 4)
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: David Horst (caution) 43
HOU: Alex (caution) 90+1
POR: Fanendo Adi (caution) 90+4
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Assistant Referees: James Conlee, Anthony Vasoli
Fourth Official: Baboucarr Jallow
