RSL Comeback Effort Falls Shy as 2023 Campaign Ends in Houston

HOUSTON (Saturday, November 11, 2023) – Real Salt Lake’s (14-12-8, 50 points, 5th West; 0-1-2 in Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs) postseason run came to an end at Shell Energy Stadium after a hard-fought, come-from-behind 1-1 draw ended in a penalty shootout loss at the hands of the Houston Dynamo.  

With all to play for under the lights in Space City, the two teams spent the opening 20 minutes feeling each other out, looking to set the tone and establish their influence on the pace of the game. In the 22nd minute, RSL strung a couple of key passes through the midfield to set up **Andrés Gómez** on the wing, who cut in at the top of the box and tried his chance on goal, but the shot rolled wide of the post. Gómez had a clearer opportunity inside the area moments later, this time his left-footed shot was on frame but right at Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark.

The Dynamo hit right back with a chance of their own in the 28th minute and capitalized, as former RSL Academy product and first-team player Corey Baird volleyed Hector Herrera’s header from close range into the back of the net, giving the hosts the pivotal first goal. Once again playing from behind - for the third time this series and the fifth time in the last seven contests - RSL played more conservatively to see the match into the halftime break trailing by one.

RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni brought on talisman **Chicho Arango** to start the second half, giving an expected boost to the RSL attack desperately in search of an equalizer. After RSL struggled to threaten the goal in the opening moments of the second period, Baird looked poised to add a second for Houston but **Justen Glad** got a foot on his shot to send it wide. Then, just as he did in Game One, RSL starlet **Diego Luna** drew RSL level, heading home a cross from **Bryan Oviedo** to beat Clark in the 65th minute. 

Houston peppered the goal in the 88th minute with back-to-back shots, requiring Zac MacMath to make consecutive saves to keep RSL in the contest with just minutes to go in regulation. A last-second corner kick came up fruitless for the visitors, and for the second-straight match the two teams headed to penalties. 

In the first two rounds of the tiebreaker, each penalty taker was clinical from the spot. In the third round, Steve Clark made a save on Luna’s penalty kick to give Houston an advantage. MacMath responded with a save of his own in the fourth round on Nelson Quiñónes to even it up, but late substitute Danny Musovski’s shot ricocheted off the post and again off Clark without crossing the line, turning the tide back to Houston. Griffin Dorsey stepped up and buried his shot past MacMath’s diving hand to send Houston to the Conference Semifinal where they will host Sporting Kansas City.  

GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:  

HOU: Corey Baird, 28th minute (Hector Herrera): Nelson Quiñónes’ cross to the end line took a deflection off Brayan Vera, but Hector Herrera was able to get a head on the ball to set up Corey Baird for an easy close-range goal. 

RSL: Diego Luna, 65th minute (Bryan Oviedo): Oviedo whipped in a cross onto the head of an unmarked Diego Luna, who nodded the ball down off the pitch to bounce into the top netting past Steve Clark. 

NOTES:

• Diego Luna finished his 2023 campaign scoring four goals in five games and became the youngest player in Club history to score in the playoffs, notching a goal in both Games One and Three.

• In an unprecedented six total matchups against the Houston Dynamo across all competitions, RSL finished with a 0W-3L-3T, the Claret-and-Cobalt eliminated in both the U.S. Open Cup and Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs in Houston. 

• RSL have qualified for the playoffs in a remarkable 13 of the Club’s last 16 seasons. This year marks the sixth time that the Club has not advanced past the first round. 

• For the second-consecutive season, RSL has fallen in the playoffs in penalty kicks, after losing in the first round in 2022 on PKs at Austin FC. 

• Across all competitions, Pablo Mastroeni’s side set a Club record in road games, finishing with an 11W-8L-5T mark when playing away from home in 2023, across MLS regular season, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS Cup Playoff contests. 

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Emeka Eneli, Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Bryan Oviedo; Andrés Gómez (Rubio Rubín 82’), Braian Ojeda, Nelson Palacio, Diego Luna; Jefferson Savarino (Danny Musovski 90’), Anderson Julio (Chicho 46’)

Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Kevon Lambert, Andrew Brody, Jasper Löffelsend, Damir Kreilach, Maikel Chang

Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Steve Clark; Griffin Dorsey, Erik Sviatchenko, Micael, Franco Escobar; Artur, Hector Herrera; Adalberto Carrasquilla, Amine Bassi, Nelson Quiñónes; Corey Baird (Thorleifur Úlfarsson 82’)

Subs not used: Andrew Tarbell, Sebastian Kowalczyk, Teenage Hadebe, Iván Franco, Brad Smith, Luís Caicedo, Daniel Steres, Aliyu Ibrahim

Stats Summary: RSL / HOUShots: 9/16

Shots on Goal: 3/5

Saves: 4/2

Corner Kicks: 7/4

Fouls: 10/12

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

HOU: Corey Baird (caution) 20’

RSL: Jefferson Savarino (caution) 46’

RSL: Chicho (caution) 67’

RSL: Brayan Vera (caution) 72’