August 6, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release
HOUSTON, Texas – Real Salt Lake fell to Houston Dynamo, 0-3, ending the Utah side’s 2024 Leagues Cup run. Despite RSL finishing with the advantage on paper, an early deflection goal snowballed into the only first-half triple that Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s side has conceded to an MLS opponent since April 2022. The match also saw the return of Captain Chicho Arango to the lineup for the first time since August 13, the Colombian frontman and Golden Boot pole sitter looking to regain his red-hot form following a four-match MLS suspension.
It was a first half to forget for the boys from the Beehive State, the Claret-and-Cobalt conceding a series of three unfortunate goals in the form of a 7′ deflection, a 24′ set-piece score and a 42′ 50/50 deflection finish. The early three-goal assault is the first time RSL has conceded a first-half triple to an MLS side this season, the only other occurrence in 2024 coming in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup loss to USL Championship side New Mexico United on May 8. Despite the lopsided scoreline, RSL had reason to be confident as it hit the locker room even with Dynamo on paper, controlling the majority of possession and passing with a four-to-zero corner kick advantage while equaling Houston in shots and shots on target.
Mastroeni’s side came out for the second 45 energized by the return of Captain and MLS Golden Boot leader Arango to the lineup. As one of the best teams in the MLS when facing adversity this season, RSL created chance after chance in the second half en route to accumulating nearly two expected goals but another comeback was not in the cards, the scoreline standing steady at 0-3 until the final whistle. The loss marks the third time in 12 months that RSL has been eliminated from a competition at the hands of Houston, losing the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Semifinal, the first round of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, and now the 2024 Leagues Cup. Notably, the contentious recent history between the teams was on full display as the two sides combined for a total 42 fouls, each team collecting an even blackjack.
RSL will continue its MLS campaign with a run of home matches beginning on August 24 against San Jose followed by New England on August 31, the Claret-and-Cobalt hosting six of the final nine MLS reg. season games at America First Field.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU – 7′ – Héctor Herrera (Unassisted): With RSL thoroughly controlling play to…