RSL Comeback Effort Falls Shy as 2023 Campaign Ends in Houston

November 11, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Real Monarchs News Release

HOUSTON – Real Salt Lake’s (14-12-8, 50 points, 5th West; 0-1-2 in Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs) postseason run came to an end at Shell Energy Stadium after a hard-fought, come-from-behind 1-1 draw ended in a penalty shootout loss at the hands of the Houston Dynamo.

With all to play for under the lights in Space City, the two teams spent the opening 20 minutes feeling each other out, looking to set the tone and establish their influence on the pace of the game. In the 22nd minute, RSL strung a couple of key passes through the midfield to set up Andrés Gómez on the wing, who cut in at the top of the box and tried his chance on goal, but the shot rolled wide of the post. Gómez had a clearer opportunity inside the area moments later, this time his left-footed shot was on frame but right at Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark.

The Dynamo hit right back with a chance of their own in the 28th minute and capitalized, as former RSL Academy product and first-team player Corey Baird volleyed Hector Herrera’s header from close range into the back of the net, giving the hosts the pivotal first goal. Once again playing from behind – for the third time this series and the fifth time in the last seven contests – RSL played more conservatively to see the match into the halftime break trailing by one.

RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni brought on talisman Chicho Arango to start the second half, giving an expected boost to the RSL attack desperately in search of an equalizer. After RSL struggled to threaten the goal in the opening moments of the second period, Baird looked poised to add a second for Houston but Justen Glad got a foot on his shot to send it wide. Then, just as he did in Game One, RSL starlet Diego Luna drew RSL level, heading home a cross from Bryan Oviedo to beat Clark in the 65th minute.

Houston peppered the goal in the 88th minute with back-to-back shots, requiring Zac MacMath to make consecutive saves to keep RSL in the contest with just minutes to go in regulation. A last-second corner kick came up fruitless for the visitors, and for the second-straight match the two teams headed to penalties.

In the first two rounds of the tiebreaker, each penalty taker was clinical from the spot. In the third round, Steve Clark made a save on Luna’s penalty kick to give Houston an advantage. MacMath responded with a save of his own in the fourth round on Nelson Quiñónes to even it up, but late…