SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake went into the matchup with the Houston Dynamo with a chip on their shoulder as they looked to bounce back from their 5-2 loss to the LA Galaxy the previous weekend. After getting most of their starters back from injury (Martinez, Morales) the Claret-and-Cobalt would still be without Joao Plata. That didn’t stop RSL. The first half was the half for the goalkeepers, mainly for Houston keeper Joe Willis as he made two big saves off of attempts from Juan Manuel Martinez. Both clubs would head to the locker room scoreless.
The Fireworks began in the second half as RSL had a chance just 30 seconds into the half as a beautifully played ball from Yura Movsisyan into the box and was just missed by Martinez. Houston would counter in the 54th minute and convert on a chance in the 54th minute on a goal by Miranda that was deflected off of the arm of defender Jamison Olave. That was the 2nd time this season that RSL had given up the first goal at home (Seattle). Real Salt Lake then took control of the match, as the equalizer came off a Houston turnover at the top of their box was taken away by Justen Glad and played forward to Jordan Allen who blasted the ball into the back of the net to tie the match at 1 and opening the 21-year-old’s MLS account for 2016 in the 62nd minute. The game-winning goal was played into the box on the left hand side by Jordan Allen to Yura Movsisyan as he put the ball in the net on the near post to put RSL up 2-1. That wasn’t the end of the fireworks at Rio Tinto Stadium, in the 80th minute, Nick Rimando would save the day as he has done for the club for many years on a sequence that started with Miranda firing the ball on the left side and Rimando would get his hand on it just enough to bounce it off the far post. On the rebound, Wenger would fire back from just 6 yards out as Rimando sprung to his left and would save the shot off of his face. Rimando remained on the pitch before being attended to by the medical staff and eventually would finish the match.
RSL (5-1-2, 17 points) is now tied for 1st place in the Western Conference with FC Dallas (5-3-2) and Colorado (5-2-2).
Real Salt Lake will begin a 5-game road trip while the pitch at Rio Tinto Stadium is being renovated. They begin the trip in Colorado against the Rapids on Saturday, May 7th. Pregame coverage will begin at 6pm with kickoff set for 7pm on ESPN 700.
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Leonel Miranda (1st of season) Assist: Giles Barnes – 54′
RSL: Jordan Allen (1st of season, 2nd of career) Assist: Justen Glad – 62′
RSL: Yura Movsisyan (2nd of season) Assist: Demar Phillips, Jordan Allen – 70′
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: DeMarcus Beasley (Yellow) 3′
HOU: Ricardo Clark (Yellow) 24′
Here are the 1st half highlights of the match on ESPN 700:
Second half highlights:
Jeff Cassar addressed the media in his post-game press conference:
Jordan Allen spoke to the media in the locker room after the match:
Tony Beltran spoke to the media in the locker room after the match:
