Feeling at home again
Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas came off the bench in the previous two games after spending three weeks trying to stay fit in a Colombian hotel gym as he sorted out immigration matters with his wife, Paola.
On Wednesday, she was in the stands to witness him play in the United States for the first time since they were married in December. He scored the go-ahead goal to help the Dynamo halt a three-game losing streak as they topped the New York Red Bulls 4-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Major League Soccer.
“It’s good to be back with the (full) team,” coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “We went through some difficulties,”
Manotas struck for his seventh goal of the season in the 39th minute. Midfielder Tomas Martinez and forward Alberth Elis combined for three in the second half to put away the Eastern Conference foe.
Beyond Manotas, several other Dynamo regulars made their return to the starting lineup after missing league games for personal and international obligations.
“We didn’t make excuses,” Cabrera said. “The team showed that they wanted to come back and we want to continue fighting for the points in front of us.”
In Manotas’ first start in over a month, he put the team ahead. Martinez attacked from the midfield, then passed the ball ahead to Elis on the flank.
The Honduran hesitated to offset his defender, then broke toward the end line and sent the ball across the mouth of the goal for Manotas to jab it in.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Dynamo (8-6-3, 27 points) burst forward on a fast break after winning possession near midfield. Manotas received the ball, then paused to survey his options. He slipped a seamless through pass to forward Romell Quito, who fought to get a step on his defender before Manotas’ pass floated just over the defender to his feet.
Quioto cut inside and squared a pass to Martinez at the top of the penalty area, but his shot was too strong and ricocheted off the crossbar. His second chance came shortly thereafter on an ensuing corner kick.
Adam Lundkvist’s deliery into the box was headed away just outside the top of the area, where it found Martinez, who whipped a skidding shot through a crowd of players into the corner of the net to double the lead over New York (8-7-3, 27) in the 56th minute.
The Dynamo put the game out of reach in the 72nd minute when Quioto crossed a pass to the opposite post toward Elis.
The forward elevated and used his head to direct the ball to the ground, where it took a sharp bounce into the side of the net.
Late in stoppage time, Elis dashed toward the goal. then added a goal when the goalkeeper disrupted his shot before it trickled into the net to give him two on the night.
When the team plays at FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, it’ll be without defender Maynor Figueroa, who received a red card in stoppage time following a minor scuffle with New York’s Alejandro Romero — who also received a red card for the altercation.
“It’s very important for the fans, for the club and for the players themselves to feel confidence again,” Cabrera said. “We were in a position in the standings (where) we were at the edge and hopefully this win helps us to get the confidence to say, ‘OK, it was a difficult moment and it’s behind us. Now we move forward.’ ”