Real Salt Lake Edges Dynamo in Tight Western Conference Clash
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo traveled to Utah on Saturday night for a meeting with familiar foe Real Salt Lake. Both teams came into the match in good form as Houston tried to win their third straight match.
Jack McGlynn returned to the Dynamo lineup after being away for a month with the United States Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Gold Cup. Houston played well in the first half but it was Real Salt Lake that had the meaningful chances.
Ethan Bartlow, back in the starting lineup again, made a clearance on the goal line in the 7th minute and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond dove to his left to make a save moments later. Bond was called on again in the 24th minute, getting a fingertip to push a rolling shot wide of goal.
Bond leaped to the corner to push away a Diego Luna deflected shot in the 41st minute to force a corner. The ensuing corner kick landed in the box and wasn’t dealt with by the Houston defense. William Agada reacted first and fired past Bond to put the home side in front 1-0 in the 42nd minute.
The Dynamo offense looked much more lively as the teams returned for the second half. A good bit of play from Amine Bassi and McGlynn found Ezequiel Ponce in the box in the 54th minute. The Argentine striker took a touch and then had his shot deflected up and off the cross bar.
McGlynn once again played orchestrator for Houston in the 66th minute. He slipped Franco Escobar in on a ball into the box. The Dynamo fullback cut onto his right foot and shot back to the near post, but hit the side netting.
The other fullback for the Dynamo, Felipe Andrade, was slipped in with a great run on goal in the 69th minute. Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafael Cabral came off his line well and closed down the angle, making the save on Andrade’s shot.
Houston continued to control the ball and spend much of the match in Salt Lake’s half of the field. Griffin Dorsey, who came into the match in the second half found space on the left side as he drove into the box in the 82nd minute. He stood a cross up to the back post where Escobar met it on the volley but couldn’t keep his shot down and skied it into the crowd.
Ben Olsen brought on attackers to try and find a goal with Sebastian Kowalczyk, Ondrej Lingr, Duane Holmes, and Gabe Segal all coming off the bench to add to the offense. The Dynamo kept firing balls into the box but could never find a solid chance to score. Ari Piol fired an incredible bicycle kick on goal in the first minute of stoppage time but Bond came up big again to make a save.
The three minutes of stoppage time came to an end and Real Salt Lake held on to the 1-0 win to pick up all three points at home. The Dynamo will have a quick turnaround now as they return home for two matches in the upcoming week. Houston will host Vancouver Whitecaps at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday and Philadelphia Union next Saturday.
