SANDY, Utah (Saturday, August 26, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (10-8-7, 37 points, 3rd West) were held scoreless in a 3-0 loss to Houston Dynamo during a lightning-delayed night at America First Field. The loss to the visiting Dynamo was RSL’s first since August, 2017, snapping an 11-game unbeaten run for RSL against Houston in MLS action.
Before the second-largest crowd in RSL’s Sandy-venue history of 21,471, Real Salt Lake returned to Major League Soccer regular season play on “Kick Childhood Cancer” Night featuring the Club’s Teddy Bear Toss following a six-week break due to Leagues Cup and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action.
It was the visiting side, Houston Dynamo, who took the lead in the 9th minute, when former RSL Homegrown Corey Baird landed on the end of a low cross from Brad Smith, tapping it into the back of the net. With the one-goal disadvantage, Real Salt Lake struggled to find any offensive rhythm, making it difficult to threaten the backline and press for the equalizer. The Dynamo doubled its lead in the 29th minute, when a cross over RSL’s backline found the head of an unmarked Daniel Steres, who was able to easily direct it past the goalkeeper. Houston would hold onto the 2-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
The start of the second half brought with it an onslaught of rain, making it even more of a task for the Claret-and-Cobalt to crawl its way back into the game. In the 59th minute the game went into a weather delay due to inclement weather in the area, play would return nearly 50 minutes later.
Houston netted its third in third and final goal of the night in the 75th minute when Coco Carrasquilla landed on the end of a pass from Ibrahim Aliyu. In the remaining 15 minutes, Real Salt Lake were unable to find the back of the net, suffering a 3-0 loss at home. The loss marked the team’s first defeat in league play since May 31, a 3-2 result, also at home, to LA Galaxy.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake travels to face Portland Timbers for a midweek match on Wednesday, August 30 at 8:30 p.m. MT before returning to America First Field to host Colorado Rapids on Saturday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. MT. With a win over Colorado, RSL will clinch the Rocky Mountain Cup.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU: Corey Baird (Brad Smith) 9th minute: Smith hit a low cross through the penalty box where a sliding Baird was able to redirect it into the back of the net.
HOU: Daniel Steres (Hector Herrera) 29th minute: Herrera chipped a ball over the backline, placing it onto the head of an unmarked Steres who put his shot past the arms of the ‘keeper.
HOU: Coco Carrasquilla (Ibrahim Aliyu) 75th minute: Carrasquilla found himself on the end of a short pass from Aliyu, slotting his shot into the near post.
NOTES:
- Defender Brayan Vera was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation in Major League Soccer regular-season play, after receiving his fifth caution back on July 15
- Real Salt Lake’s most recent signing, Jamaican defender Kevon Lambert, made his first appearance on Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s gameday roster. In the 83rd-minute, Lambert came on as a substitute for Justen Glad, making both his Major League Soccer and Real Salt Lake debut. With his debut he became the 29th player to appear this season and the 202nd to appear all time
- For the second stretch this season, RSL has dropped four games in a five-match span, the dual slides bookending a run that saw RSL lose just three of 23 from April 8 to late July
- The loss tonight was teenage himegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers third in nine games across all competitions, the Academy product also with five wins and a draw for the Club’s first team
- With an absence in the scoresheet, RSL FW Chicho Arango saw his goal/assist streak in MLS action snapped at three games
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Gavin Beavers; Bode Hidalgo, Justen Glad (Kevon Lambert 83’), Marcelo Silva, Brayan Oviedo; Jefferson Savarino (Diego Luna 60’), Nelson Palacio, Jasper Löffelsend (Braian Ojeda 70’), Maikel Chang (Rubio Rubin 60’); Chicho Arango, Danny Musovski (Anderson Julio 60’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Andrew Brody, Damir Kreilach
Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Steve Clark; Brad Smith (Franco Escobar 70’), Ethan Bartlow, Daniel Steres, Micael dos Santos; Ivan Franco (Coco Carrasquilla 60’), Hector Herrera (Artur 46’), Luis Caicedo; Corey Baird (Griffin Dorsey 70’), Ibrahim Aliyu, Sebastian Kowalczyk (Amine Bassi 83’)
Subs not used: Andrew Tarbell, Nelson Quinones Thor Ulfarsson, Brooklyn Raines
Stats Summary: RSL / HOU
Shots: 11 / 6
Shots on Goal: 1 / 4
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 0
Fouls: 15 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Maikel Chang (caution) 50’
RSL: Anderson Julio (caution) 63’
