The Houston Dynamo were well on their way to continuing their perfect start at home against expansion Minnesota United on Saturday, but the improving Loons stunned their hosts with a pair of second-half goals that salvaged a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Mauro Manotas and Alberth Elis scored first-half goals for Houston, giving the Dynamo a seemingly comfortable two-goal lead. But goals by Christian Ramirez and Johan Venegas earned a point for Minnesota and left the Dynamo still unbeaten, but no longer perfect (3-0-1) at home.

Goals

14' – HOU – Mauro Manotas Watch

43' – HOU – Alberth Elis Watch

47' – MIN – Christian Ramirez Watch

59' – MIN – Johan Venegas Watch

Three Things

SET PIECES AND RE-STARTS: The first Dynamo goal came off a quick throw-in by Ricardo Clark to Erick "Cubo" Torres, who hit a square pass to Mauro Manotas, at the penalty spot. The second goal came off a curling free kick by Boniek Garcia to the 6-yard box, where it was knocked in by Alberth Elis. Oh, and Elis had a goal disallowed for offside. That one came off a corner. OVERCOMING ADVERSITY: You only get three substitutions in a 90-minute game, and you don't want to use them in the first half, usually. But Minnesota United had to make not one, but two first-half substitutions, because of injury. Rasmus Schuller walked off gingerly, touching his left hip, in the 43d minute, replaced by Miguel Ibarra. Then, in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, the Loons lost goalie Bobby Shuttleworth, who took a knee to the head from Alberth Elis as he was scoring Houston's second goal. Shuttleworth was replaced by John Alvbage, who made two saves and did not allow a goal. THAT'S EFFICIENT: Two shots on goal, two goals for Minnesota. The Loons were outshot 19-8 and six of their eight shots were off target. That's OK. They scored goals on 100 percent of the shots they put on frame. Can't do much better than that.

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