Mauro Manotas, more than he ever has, wants to play soccer. The Dynamo forward finally may get that opportunity again on Saturday, which is significant because fans who stuck around for the final third of last season probably want to see him, too.
Manotas was fastened to the bench for much of the 2016 season before finally breaking into the starting XI in mid-August. Three starts later he scored his first MLS goal. He followed that with five goals in a span of three games, including the sixth hat trick in Dynamo history.
The 21-year old Colombian was a rare bright spot in an otherwise poor season.