Real Salt Lake (11-3-7, 40 points, 2nd West); Houston Dynamo FC (8-7-6, 30 points, 7th West)
What Happened?
Real Salt Lake (11-3-7, 40 points, 2nd West) resumed its MLS duties following a 10-day break with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 3-2 victory against an in-form Houston Dynamo side on Wednesday night at America First Field.
Paraguayan midfielder Braian Ojeda scored his first RSL goal in 63 appearances with a low, well-placed effort from inside the penalty area, while Andres Gómez and Diego Luna each added further surety to the scoreline as the Claret-and-Cobalt rallied from behind to seal a dramatic comeback win in an enthralling MLS matchup. As they typically do, Pablo Mastroeni’s men delivered the perfect response to last Saturday's frustrating defeat to LA Galaxy with a swashbuckling display of attacking football in front of a mammoth home crowd of 21,522, the third-highest attendance in the venue’s 15-year history.
The win was RSL’s 11th in total thus far of the 2024 campaign, with 11 wins, seven draws against just three losses. The result places the Utah side in second place overall and joint top - on points - of the West standings, level on points with LAFC, albeit having played one extra game.
Player Spotlight: Ojeda’s First
Ojeda proved the unlikely goalscoring hero from his midfield spot for the hosts, providing RSL’s all-important third and eventual game-winning goal of the match. In the 67th minute, the 24-year-old arrived right on time in the penalty box to get on the end of a cutback from Gómez and a fine dummy from Chicho (intended or not), taking a first touch for composure before placing a low, right-footed effort past Steve Clark and into the bottom right corner to re-establish RSL’s advantage on the night. The goal represented the midfielder’s first in Claret-and-Cobalt colors, and his first in Major League Soccer since arriving on the league’s shores back in August 2022. Ojeda also became the 105th goal-scorer in RSL’s 635-game history, amongst 210 players to have competed for the club in MLS action.
In addition to his goal, Ojeda also provided a complete performance at the heart of RSL’s midfield. Operating as part of the double pivot protecting the back four in a 4-2-3-1 starting formation, Ojeda provided an assured defensive screen, shuttling laterally between the lines to help provide adequate cover and a shield for his defenders whilst simultaneously being equally adept offensively with dynamic forward runs, attacking the box and offering passing options to teammates with runs into space and late runs into the box.
Throughout his 90 minutes played, the midfielder recorded 27 total passes with a percentage accuracy of 84 percent, as well as two total shots, one on target, a solitary goal, and a personal xG of 0.34.
Often deployed as part of an unglamorous, workmanlike midfield engine room, Ojeda has made a total of 20 appearances this season, lodging a goal and an assist, missing just one game due to a second yellow earned in the 3-0 snowscape win over LAFC back on March 2.
Gómez, Luna the Standard Bearers
Young dynamic attackers Diego Luna and Andres Gómez also continued their stunning forms this season with man-of-the-match-worthy performances in RSL’s victory. With the team a goal down early in the game, and Captain Chicho Arango only having just barely returned from a recently-sustained head injury, the pair stepped up in their team’s hour of need, leading the charge for a magnificent comeback on the night with performances so dominant, the hosts could - and probably should - have won by more.
Having gone a goal down as early as the 8th minute against the run of play, Gómez would be the first of the pair to strike, providing RSL with its equalizer less than 20 minutes later. In the 22nd minute, Bode Hidalgo stepped forward from his defensive line to win an interception in midfield with a header that the Dynamo defenders were content to let slowly bounce back all the way to Clark. However, capitalizing on the error in the opposing backline, Gómez was alert enough to rush on to the ball as it trickled into the Dynamo penalty area just in time to toe-poke an effort past an onrushing Clark and into the back of the net to draw the match. It was a goal out of nothing, but nothing less than the hosts deserved for the level of dominance they had displayed throughout the game and over the visitors up until that point. It was a goal too that encapsulated the 21-year-old’s determination, skill, and attitude, Gómez by no means done yet.
Gómez continued to terrorize the Dynamo defenders who had no answers whatsoever on how to contain RSL’s dynamic wideman, and he would play another crucial role by providing the all-important assist for the game-winner. In the 67th minute, Gómez was released in behind on the left to run onto a through ball by Chicho before in turn cutting the ball back for his Colombian compatriot, which found its way into the box to Ojeda, who arrived promptly on the scene to dispatch a low placed effort into the bottom right corner and re-establish a Claret-and-Cobalt lead on the Wasatch Front.
In a comprehensive performance, Gómez also played a key role in RSL’s second goal of the game, providing the important pass to Matt Crooks, who then went on to set up Luna for what was a truly magnificent long-range finish.
Gómez’s goal and pair of assists in the contest represented his 11th goal and ninth assist of the season respectively, placing him in the MLS top 10 for both categories.
Throughout his 90 minutes played, the Colombian international recorded 22 successful passes at a passing accuracy of 71 percent, a goal and three assists, three key passes, two total shots and two shots on target, and a personal xG of 1.07. A thoroughly effective performance.
Midfielder Diego Luna was the next attacker to shine bright on the night with a performance echoing his reputation, alongside Gómez’s, as one of the most talented young players in the country. RSL’s diminutive creator-in-chief was at the heart of everything that went right offensively for the Claret-and-Cobalt, even getting on the scoresheet himself with a sumptuous effort right from the top draw.
In the 42nd minute, and with the clock ticking precariously towards halftime, Gómez received the ball out wide on the right from Crooks before playing an immediate pass centrally back to the English midfielder, who managed to find some space in the middle of the pitch before laying a pass on the Luna in the left half space. Receiving the ball on his favored left foot, the 20-year-old took a couple of first touches to cut inside and evade the challenge of a defender before arrowing a spectacularly curled right-footed effort - one that had teammate Alex Katranis celebrating before it even went in - past Clark and into the far corner to send the home faithful into ecstasy. It was a moment of magnificence and pure magic from Luna, who has now developed into one of Pablo’s most consistent and trusted lieutenants on the field.
Throughout his time on the pitch, Luna recorded a total of 26 passes with a percentage accuracy of 81 percent including six key passes, a goal, two total shots and two on target, and a personal xG of 0.12.
Luna’s goal also represented the midfielder’s fourth in total of the 2024 campaign alongside his nine assists, more than double his total goal contributions last season (six).
Brody Makes 100th Appearance!
The game also marked a special occasion for homegrown defender Andrew Brody, who made his 100th MLS reg. season appearance for Real Salt Lake, becoming just the third homegrown player to hit the century mark with the Utah side.
Throughout his tenure on the Wasatch front, Brody has developed into a consistent, capable, and dependable servant for RSL, also now emerging as one of the first names on Pablo’s teamsheet having recorded 18 starts in 21 RSL games this season.
In his five regular seasons at the club, Brody has now recorded 100 appearances, 88 starts, 7,899 total minutes played, two goals and eight assists all primarily from defensive positions. An ever-humble servant of the Claret-and-Cobalt, Brody’s records are a testament to not just his undeniable ability on the pitch, but also to his mentality, devotion, and dedication to Real Salt Lake and its fans. One of our very own.
Off to one of the strongest starts to a season in franchise history, the win lifts RSL to second place in the Western Conference standings, and joint top in terms of points, with 40 points from 21 games, the same points total as first-placed LAFC - who have one more win (12) compared to RSL’s (11), as well as a game in hand.
RSL’s next match is on Saturday, July 6 against Atlanta United, in what is yet another critical home match. For tickets, schedules, info, news, and more, visit rsl.com/tickets
Important Milestones
- MF Braian Ojeda earns the first MLS/RSL goal of his career in his 63rd game across all competitions since first joining the Claret-and-Cobalt in Sept. 2022.
- Ojeda becomes the 105th goal-scorer in RSL’s 635-game history, amongst 210 players to have competed for the club in MLS action.
- Winger Andrés Gómez tallies two assists (9) and a goal (11) to move into the top 10 in both categories in MLS this season, alongside teammate Chicho Arango. RSL is the only team with two players occupying spots in the top 10 of both major statistics.
- Playmaker Diego Luna scores his fourth goal of the year to go along with nine assists, more than doubling his six total goal contributions from a year ago.
- Homegrown defender Andrew Brody tallies his 100th cap with Real Salt Lake. He becomes just the third homegrown to reach the century mark with RSL.
- The attendance of 21,522 establishes the third-highest attendance in America First Field’s 15-year history.
