Postgame Notes: Houston Dynamo 2, Portland Timbers 1

THE WIN:

• Advanced the Dynamo to the Conference Championship for the seventh time in the club’s 12-year history.
• Sent the Dynamo to the Western Conference Championship for the fourth time in club history. Houston was in the Eastern Conference from 2011-14 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Championship in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
• Improved Houston’s all-time playoff record to 16-8-6.
• Improved Houston’s record on the road in the playoffs to 6-7-4 all-time.
• Extended Houston’s unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games across regular season and playoff action.
• Improved Houston’s record against the Portland Timbers in postseason play to 1-0-1 all-time.
• Was Houston’s second win away from home this season, including regular season and postseason play.
• Was Houston’s first win on artificial turf, including regular season and postseason play, since July 13, 2013 at New England.
• Was Houston’s third come-from-behind win this season and first away from home. The Dynamo previously rallied to win on April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls and October 11 vs. Sporting Kansas City.

DYNAMO STARTING XI (4-3-3):

• Joe Willis; Jalil Anibaba, Adolfo Machado, Philippe Senderos ©, Dylan Remick; Eric Alexander, Juan David Cabezas, Tomás Martínez; Alberth Elis, Erick Torres, Alex

TEAM NOTES:

• The Dynamo conceded the first goal of the game when Portland MF Dairon Asprilla scored in the 39th minute. It was the 15th time this season that the other team scored first and the first time in the postseason. Houston is now 3-10-3 when conceding the first goal.
• The Dynamo were tied at halftime for the 14th time this season and for the third consecutive playoff game. Houston is now 3-4-7 this season when tied at intermission.
• Portland had the better of possession, holding the ball for 58.7 percent of the game. It was the 30th time that Houston had less possession than its opponent this season, including regular and postseason games, and the Dynamo improved to 15-5-10 in those games. The Dynamo are 2-0-0 in the playoffs when they have less possession than their opponent.
• The Dynamo were tied at halftime for the 14th time this year and for the third consecutive playoff game. Houston is now 3-4-5 this year when tied at intermission and 2-0-1 in the playoffs.
• The Dynamo were even on shots with the Timbers, 12-12. It marked only the fourth time this year, but the second game in a row, that the Dynamo were even on shots with their opponent, and they improved to 1-1-2 in those games.
• The Dynamo will utilize their 35th different starting lineup in 37 MLS matches this year, including regular season and postseason.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES:

• FW Mauro Manotas scored his first career playoff goal when he blasted a goal from 25 yards out in the 78th minute to give Houston a 2-1 lead.
• Manotas made his second appearance in postseason play if he comes into today’s game.
• DF Dylan Remick scored his first career playoff goal when he tied the game with a right-footed volley in the 43rd minute.
• Both of Remick’s goals this season (tonight and April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls) came within five minutes of an opponent goal to tie the score.
• Remick made his postseason debut, returning to the Starting XI for the first time since Oct. 22 against the Chicago Fire.
• DF Jalil Anibaba registered his first career assist in playoff action when he set up DF Dylan Remick’s goal in the 43rd minute.
• Anibaba will make his fifth career appearance and third start in the postseason, and his second playoff start with the Dynamo.
• Anibaba will be in the Starting XI in consecutive games for the second time this year.
• MF Tomás Martínez recorded his first career assist in postseason action when his free kick helped set up DF Dylan Remick’s goal in the 43rd minute.
• Martínez led the team with 66 total touches in his 83-minute shift and attempted 39 passes, which was the second-highest total on the team.
• Martínez made his third playoff start this afternoon.
• MF Eric Alexander recorded his first career assist in playoff action when he set up FW Mauro Manotas’ game-winning goal in the 77th minute.
• Alexander led the team with 40 total passes and completed 34 (85.0 percent). His completion percentage was tops among all Dynamo starters for the second game in a row.
• Alexander made his 12th appearance and eighth start in the postseason.
• GK Joe Willis picked up his second career win in postseason play and improved his record to 2-1-0 in the playoffs.
• Willis made his third career playoff appearance, his second start in postseason play and his first postseason appearance and start as a Dynamo player.
• MF Alex made his second start and fourth appearance in the playoffs.
• MF Juan David Cabezas started his third playoff game this afternoon.
• FW Alberth Elis started his third playoff game today.
• MF Boniek García made his 12th career playoff appearance when he came on for MF Tomás Martínez in the 83rd minute.
• DF Adolfo Machado made his third start in the postseason today.
• FW Romell Quioto made his third career appearance in the playoffs when he came for MF Alex in the 86th minute.
• DF Philippe Senderos wore the captain’s armband for the first time with the Dynamo in this evening’s game.
• Senderos started his third consecutive playoff game.
• FW Erick Torres made his third appearance and second start in the postseason.