Houston Dynamo shock and eliminate top-seed Portland Timbers

The Houston Dynamo shocked the Portland Timbers in MLS' Western Conference semifinals on Sunday, beating the top seed 2-1 at Providence Park to advance to the conference finals against the Seattle Sounders.

Dairon Asprilla almost opened the scoring for Portland in the 23rd minute for Portland, but his powerful header was palmed away by Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis.

But the 25-year-old made no mistake on his second chance, smashing a volley following a corner into the Houston goal after defender Dylan Remick slipped and left Asprilla all alone.

Top-seed Portland's lead didn't last though as Remick made amends at the other end of the field by netting a golazo of his own to make it 1-1 and send the Dynamo to the dressing room with the upper hand in the tie on away goals.

Seeking a second that would really put Portland up against it, Erick Torres bombed down the middle of the field just before the hour mark and, with a good look at the goal, fired a well-hit shot well over the crossbar.

An air of desperation crept into the Portland side with 20 minutes remaining and the team poured forward looking for a critical go-ahead goal.

But the goal didn't come and instead Houston shocked the home crowd on the counter-attack when substitute Mauro Manotas picked up a pass from Eric Alexander and fired a shot past Jeff Attinella to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. 

That meant Portland needed two goal to advance and Caleb Porter's team continued to push, but the deficit was too much to overcome and the Dynamo are on to the conference finals.

This is Houston's first trip to the conference finals since 2013, when it was still in the Eastern Conference.