Diego Luna Scores Second Half Equalizer In Transition For Real Salt Lake

Oct 29, 2023, 5:31 PM

Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna controls the ball at America First Field during the 0-0 draw against NYCFC on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Laura Dearden/Real Salt Lake)

(Photo by Laura Dearden/Real Salt Lake)

BY BRIAN PREECE

Digital Producer

SANDY, Utah – Taking advantage of a Houston turnover, Anderson Julio found Diego Luna for a game-tying, 54th-minute goal.

No. 5 Real Salt Lake is in Houston for the first leg a playoff matchup against the No. 4 Houston Dynamo.

Diego Luna, RSL's savior equalizes for @realsaltlake @kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/EPMPdiHefj

— RSL Show on KSL (@rslshow) October 29, 2023

With Real desperate for any semblance of offense, Julio took a pass in open space and after dribbling toward the box, sending a centering pass to Luna. Luna collected the pass, gathered, and then fired a right-footed shot past a diving keeper, tying the game 1-1.

It was Luna’s sixth goal of the year and Julio’s first assist.

Round One – RSL vs. Houston

The four-seed versus five-seed matchup is supposed to be one of the most even series in the first round.

Real Salt Lake got a tough draw for the first round with the Houston Dynamo.

ALL OR NOTHING IN ROUND ONE pic.twitter.com/mHuglAikfs

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 28, 2023

In three games played against the Dynamo this year, RSL is winless with one draw and two losses.

Real and Houston most recently played back-to-back games in August. One in MLS play and the other in the U.S. Open Cup. Houston outscored RSL 6-1 in these matches.

Follow Real Salt Lake With KSL Sports

These teams will face each other in the second leg of the first round when Houston travels to Sandy, Utah on Monday, November 6 to take on Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT).

KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake can be found here.

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2023 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

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