PORTLAND — Diego Valeri scored on a pair of late penalty kicks to in the Portland Timbers’ 3-2 comeback victory over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
The Timbers (6-6-5) are undefeated in six games overall and five MLS matches, and the win pushed them above the red line into fifth place in the Western Conference.
Valeri’s penalty kicks came in the 82nd minute and stoppage time, giving him seven goals on the season. Lucas Melano also scored for Portland.
Andrew Wenger and Will Bruin scored within a span of two minutes in the first half for the Dynamo (3-8-5), who sit at the bottom of the conference.
Houston had had played to three consecutive draws since the departure of Owen Coyle, who has become manager of the Blackburn Rovers in Lancashire, England. Assistant Wade Barrett was promoted to interim head coach.
Houston had a good chance in the 23rd minute but David Horst’s header was headed off the line by Portland’s Alvas Powell and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson snagged the rebound.
But Gleeson couldn’t reach Wenger’s goal to the far post in the 28th minute, or Bruin’s goal, off a misplay by Portland defender Liam Ridgewell, some two minutes later.
It was the fourth goal of the season for both Wegner and Bruin.
Darren Mattocks’ header off a cross from Melano in extra time at the end of the first half was grabbed by Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric. The Dynamo subbed out Deric for Joe Willis after the break.
Melano scored in the 64th minute, for his second goal in as many games, and the Timbers narrowed it to 2-1.
Valeri scored the equalizer in 81st minute on a penalty kick after Horst was flagged for a handball. He scored on his second penalty kick in extra time, after Melano was taken down by Willis in the box.
The Dynamo players were stunned by the questionable call and some continued to discuss with the officials on the field following the game.
The Timbers remained without midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who was just finishing up Cope America duty with the U.S. national team. The United States fell to Colombia 1-0 in the third-place match on Saturday in Arizona.
Before the kickoff the Timbers’ Army supporter group celebrated Pride with a tifo, or fan display, a rainbow banner that stretched across the north end of the stadium reading: “Love is a Human Experience, Not a Political Statement.”
