Manotas’ goal turns rough start into road draw

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The Dynamo are not exactly back on track, but they’ll feel better about things after an improved performance on the road netted them a share of the points.

Two early goals were it for the Dynamo and New York City FC in a 1-1 draw Saturday afternoon at Pratt & Whitney Stadium.

The draw extends the Dynamo’s winless streak to five games, but with the way their games away from home have gone this season, they’re likely to feel satisfied.

If not for the goalkeepers, both teams would have scored winners in the second half. The Dynamo’s Tyler Deric was in the perfect spot several times to deny NYCFC. Sean Johnson came off his line twice to deny Dynamo forward Alberth Elis in the late stages.

The game began disastrously for the Dynamo when they conceded a headed goal to Maxi Morález, who is 5-3, in the sixth minute. Morález ran onto a crossing pass outside the near post and got it ahead of Dynamo left back DaMarcus Beasley.

Morález headed it over Deric, who had come a few steps off his line in case Morález missed the ball.

The Dynamo quickly reversed the field and, in the 16th minute, found success with high-pressing tactics. Some neat interplay at the top of the penalty area led to a NYCFC foul on Dynamo midfielder Alex.

Rather than waiting to take a dangerous free kick, Dynamo forward Vicente Sanchez chose the element of surprise. With players still surrounding him waiting for the Dynamo to set up that free kick, Sanchez touched the ball on the ground and played Mauro Manotas in on the left side of the area.

Manotas got to the ball just before Johnson and chipped it into the empty net to level the match 1-1.

Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera switched the personnel for his starting 4-3-3 formation.

Three of the top four scorers — Erick Torres, Elis and Romell Quioto — did not start. Quioto did not make the lineup.

Instead, Cabrera deployed central midfielders Alex and Tomas Martinez as wingers playing on each side of Manotas. Sanchez, who has played mostly on the wing, started at central midfield.