Dynamo open preseason with 1-1 draw

TUCSON – The Houston Dynamo opened their preseason with a 1-1 draw against the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers on Wednesday night in Tucson.

Forward Mauro Manotas scored the lone goal for the Dynamo, tying the game in the 74th minute on a brilliant counterattack. 

Midfielder Leonel Miranda passed the ball ahead to a Manotas who was onside, but alone with the keeper. He calmly put it nearside past the sliding keeper.

Forward Mauro Manotas scored as the Houston Dynamo opened their preseason trip to Tucson with a 1-1 draw against the 2015 MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers on Wednesday night at Kino Sports Complex.

Manotas, a former Colombia U-20 national team player, and Miranda were among 24 players used by Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle.

In the first of three friendly matches in Arizona, Coyle's starting lineup included nine returning players from the 2015 squad: Tyler Deric, Sheanon Williams, Raul Rodriguez, Alex Lima,Boniek Garcia, Rob Lovejoy, Giles Barnes, Erick Torres and Demarcus Beasley. New midfielder Andrew Wenger and Sebastien Ibeagha, a former Dynamo Academy defender, were the newcomers in the starting lineup.

Coyle held three players out as injury precautions, Cristian Maidana, Will Bruin and Ricardo Clark. All three have trained in Tucson this week and have minor ailments.   

The Dynamo will train Thursday and Friday in Tucson ahead of their friendly against the San Jose Earthquakes at 6 p.m. on Saturday