SANDY, Utah (Saturday, June 26, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (3-2-4, 13 points) played to a 1-1 draw with Houston Dynamo FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night, moving to 2-1-3 at home this season.
Justen Glad scored his first goal of the 2021 season as RSL closed a three-match run in the last nine days with the draw.
RSL applied pressure from the kickoff and was rewarded with a goal just 10 minutes into the match when Glad touched home his first goal of the season from an Albert Rusnák corner kick. From there RSL continued to apply pressure to Houston and nearly found a second goal in the 43rd minute when Maikel Chang’s header glanced just wide of the far post as RSL took the 1-0 advantage into halftime.
The second half began in favor of Houston, finding the tying goal in the 52ndminute through Maxi Urruti who curled home a shot from inside the penalty area, bringing the score to 1-1.
RSL had an opportunity for the go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute when Damir Kreilach’s header from the center of the penalty area was saved well by Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric. A flurry of chances for both sides would then follow, the best coming by way of Ariel Lassiter whose breakaway effort in stoppage time was saved by David Ochoa to help RSL to the home draw.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake welcomes LAFC to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 3. Kick off from Sandy is set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Justen Glad (Albert Rusnák) 11th minute - Earning a corner kick, Rusnák drove a ball into the middle of the penalty area where Glad beat his defender to the ball to clip home his first goal of the season.
HOU: Maxi Urruti (Tyler Pasher, Joe Corona) 52nd minute - Maintaining possession through the middle of the field, Pasher kept possession of the ball inside the penalty area with time and space to shoot before electing to pass the ball to Urruti who then curled a shot into the far side-netting to draw the game level.
NOTES:
- Forward Bobby Wood made his frist RSL appearance at Rio Tinto Stadium in the 66th minute after making his RSL and MLS debut on Wednesday against Seattle Sounders FC.
- Midfielder Albert Rusnák now has a goal or assist in each of the last three matches.
- Defender Toni Datković and winger Jonathan Menéndez were not available as they await their immigration to the U.S.
- The match was RSL’s first match against Houston since Sept. 29, 2019. The two Western Conference foes had no matches against each other in the condensed 2020 season.
- Forward Jeizon Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a quad injury and will be eligible to return to action after RSL’s match on July 21 against the LA Galaxy.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders FC
Date: June 23, 2021
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: Sunny and 83 Degrees
Attendance: 13,588
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
Houston Dynamo FC 0 1 1
RSL: Justen Glad (Albert Rusnák) 11’
HOU: Maxi Urruti (Tyler Pasher, Joe Corona) 52’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera (Andrew Brody 83’), Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Donny Toia; Nick Besler (Justin Meram 83’), Pablo Ruiz; Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach, Maikel Chang (Anderson Julio 66’); Rubio Rubin (Bobby Wood 66’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Marcelo Silva, Justin Portillo, Everton Luiz
Houston Dynamo FC (4-4-2): Marko Maric; Zarek Valentin, Adam Lundqkvist, Tim Parker, Sam Junqua; Memo Rodriguez (Maynor Figueroa 82’), Joe Corona (Boniek Garcia 60’), Derrick Jones, Matias Vera (Darwin Ceren 60’); Tyler Pasher (Ariel Lassiter 74’), Maxi Urruti (Darwin Quintero 81’)
Subs not used: Michael Nelson, Jose Bizama, Mateo Bajamich, Nico Lemoine
Stats Summary: RSL / HOU
Shots: 21 / 7
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 9 / 3
Corner Kicks: 13 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 8
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
HOU: Matias Vera (caution) 42’
HOU: Maxi Urruti (caution) 66’
HOU: Darwin Ceran (caution) 84’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Claudiu Badea, Peter Balciunas
4th Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
AVAR: Craig Lowry
