Real Salt Lake Surrenders More Points At Home In Draw With Houston Dynamo

Jun 26, 2021, 8:45 PM | Updated: Dec 9, 2022, 2:34 pm

Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake Twitter

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has drawn 1-1 with Houston Dynamo at Rio Tinto Stadium in a frustrating game that ended in controversy.

“Feel like we were on top of them the whole game and then they get a half chance and put it away,” Justen Glad said at the conclusion of the game. “It felt soft. We have to figure that out,” he added.

Manager Freddy Juarez opted for a changed lineup as RSL was embarking on their third game in nine days.

Erik Holt started alongside Justen Glad at center-back. Donny Toia started over Andrew Brody at left-back, and Maikel Chang got the nod over Anderson Julio and Justin Meram on the wing.

The leading lads #RSLvHOU | #RSL pic.twitter.com/941w3dUYvA

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 26, 2021

Dominating First 45

RSL dominated the opening 45 minutes of play. They were living in the Dynamo half and pushing for an early opening goal.

They broke through via a Justen Glad header from their third corner kick of the match in the 11th minute. It was Glad’s first goal of the 2021 season and the fifth goal of his career.

Take a bow, @justen_glad TAKE A BOW 👏 pic.twitter.com/BO1O3pN6La

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 27, 2021

Albert Rusnak played a beautiful ball into the area and Justen Glad found a way to put the outside of his right boot on the ball and into the back of the net. It was the first goal in which RSL scored from a corner kick this year.

The remainder of the half was dominated by RSL who led the Dynamo in all facets of the game.

They entered the half-time interval with the 1-0 advantage.

Second Half Slump, Again

Sadly, the second half did not go in the same manner that the first half did. RSL looked like a completely different team and Houston began to grow in confidence.

Houston was rewarded for their perseverance in the 52nd minute when striker Maximiliano Urruti beat David Ochoa after finding a pocket of space in the box and firing the ball into the back post to equalize proceedings at the Riot.

Well worked for @maxiurruti37 to tie it up#HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/1wGG9NFhPz

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) June 27, 2021

The goal drained the energy from RSL who were never able to find their groove after conceding early in the second half.

Urruti scored in a fashion that he has become accustomed to; making something out of very little. When he received the ball in the box, he took one touch before unleashing his shot despite being surrounded by multiple RSL defenders.

RSL was able to generate chances towards the end of the game, however. Anderso Julio came off the bench and offered a spark, while Bobby Wood made his home debut when he replaced Rubio Rubin in the 66th minute and the two were able to pose problems for the Dynamo.

“I thought the first half we did very well, we controlled the game and had a lot of chances,” Wood said. “But we didn’t kill them and we paid the price in the second half. It’s very disappointing.”

Pablo Ruiz played a through ball to Julio found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but pushed his shot a foot wide of the far post. Then, Julio was in on goal again a few minutes later and looked to play a ball into the feet of Wood but was cut off by a Dynamo defender.

The Dynamo also had a one-on-one chance inside the final minutes of the game, but David Ochoa made a beautiful save with his right palm to deny the visitors any late heroics.

Controversy then struck in the 93rd minute when Damir Kreilach was pulled down while attempting a header in the box from an early delivery from Andrew Brody.

The referee called “play on” but when the ball next went out of play he was instructed to take a longer look at the decision on the VAR television. After multiple minutes of viewing the tape, he ruled that the decision would stand and no penalty would be awarded. Much to the despair of the RSL fans in attendance and gutted RSL players.