The Houston Dynamo are absolutely loving the spoiler role.
On Saturday night the Portland Timbers became the latest playoff-chasing team to be stung by the Western Conference stragglers, falling 3-1 at muggy BBVA Compass Stadium as Mauro Manotas bagged a hat trick in a breakthrough performance for the young Colombian striker.
Manotas opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half after a handball call on Liam Ridgewell, then netted two coolly-taken finishes in the late going after Diego Valeri had drawn Portland level.
After their woeful start to the season, Houston have improved dramatically under interim head coach Wade Barrett and have snatched important points away from Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC, Seattle, Toronto and San Jose in recent weeks.