HOUSTON (Saturday, August 18, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (11-10-5, 38 points) had chances to score early and often at BBVA Compass Stadium against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night. But it was two late goals from MF Albert Rusnák gave RSL a massive three points in just the second road win of the season.
GK Andrew Putna made his first MLS start and came up big on two saves to earn the victory, but the late-game heroics from Rusnák told the story of the match as he hammered a shot from just outside the box, then converted a penalty for a pair of stoppage-time goals as RSL came back for the victory.
In the first half, Salt Lake forced Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis into four saves and narrowly missed on some other shots that would have staked the visitors to an early lead. However, Houston took advantage, scoring on the only first-half shot on goal mustered by the Dynamo. On a second effort from a deep free kick, Oscar Boniek Garcia connected on a shot from just outside the box that caromed off DF Nick Besler and past Putna for his first goal of the season to put the Dynamo up 1-0 in the 36th minute.
The second half saw more of the same from Real Salt Lake, with the club forcing Willis into three more second-half saves to keep Houston in the lead. Then Rusnák collected a ball from FW Jefferson Savarino at the edge of the 18 and took matters into his own hands, cutting from right to left before blistering a shot past Willis to equalize at 1-1 in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. FW Sebastian Saucedo then drew a penalty when he was obstructed by DaMarcus Beasley on a cutting maneuver in the box, providing the opportunity for Rusnák to win the match from the penalty spot. He hammered his shot to the left of Willis while the keeper dove right and RSL left Texas with an elusive three points in the 2-1 victory.
The win lifts RSL to fourth in the Western Conference, just four points behind conference leaders Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas.
UP NEXT: RSL has one more road match before returning home to Rio Tinto Stadium. Salt Lake will take on the Colorado Rapids on August 25 at Dick’s Sporting Good Park in the final match of the Rocky Mountain Cup this season. RSL leads the season series at 1-0-1 after two matches at home. A win or a draw would clinch the trophy for the 10th time in the last 12 years.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
HOU: Oscar Boniek Garcia, 36th minute – On a free kick just outside the box, RSL defended the initial effort, but the rebound fell to Oscar Boniek Garcia and he ripped a first-time shot that deflected off of Nick Besler and past Andrew Putna for his first goal of the season to put Houston up 1-0.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Jefferson Savarino, Sebastian Saucedo), 93rd minute+ - RSL pressed for the equalizer and found it early in stoppage time. Sebastian Saucedo passed to Jefferson Savarino on the right side and Savarino touched it to Albert Rusnák. He then cut from right to left and split a left footed shot past Joe Willis for his sixth goal of the season to make it 1-1.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (PK), 100th minute+ - Deep into stoppage time, Sebastian Saucedo was taken down in the box by DaMarcus Beasley and referee Armando Villarreal pointed to the spot. He confirmed his initial call through video review and Albert Rusnák smashed his shot past Joe Willis for his second goal of the night and seventh of the season to put RSL up for good at 2-1.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
HOU: Joe Willis, 11th minute – With RSL out on the break, Luis Silva played the ball to Jefferson Savarino crashing down the right side. He hit the first-time shot but was met by Joe Willis coming off his line to clear the shot for a corner.
RSL: Andrew Putna, 68th minute – Romell Quioto slid in behind the RSL defense and fired a right-footed shot that looked bound for the net, but Andrew Putna dove to his left to make the save and keep RSL in contention.
NOTES:
- RSL DF Marcelo Silva was unavailable for the match due to a foot injury and GK Nick Rimando was unavailable due to a hamstring injury suffered in LAFC on Wednesday.
- GK Andrew Putna is the 10th player to make his MLS debut with Real Salt Lake this season, joining MF Damir Kreilach, DF Shawn Barry, FW Alfredo Ortuno, FW Corey Baird, DF Adam Henley, MF Pablo Ruiz, DF Nick Besler, FW Ricky Lopez-Espin and DF Aaron Herrera. Additionally, DF Taylor Peay made his RSL debut this season, making Putna the 153rd player to appear in an MLS match for RSL since the club’s inaugural season in 2005.
- MF Pablo Ruiz left the match in the 39th minute with an apparent knee injury. He was making his first start since May 19.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Houston Dynamo
Date: August 18, 2018
Venue: BBVA Compass Stadium; Houston, Texas
Attendance: 15,072
Weather: Clear and 89
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 2 2
Houston Dynamo 1 0 1
HOU: Oscar Boniek Garcia 36’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Jefferson Savarino, Sebastian Saucedo) 93+’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (PK) 100+’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Andrew Putna; Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera; Sunny, Pablo Ruiz (Albert Rusnák 39’); Jefferson Savarino, Damir Kreilach, Joao Plata (Sebastian Saucedo 78’); Luis Silva (Corey Baird 69’).
Subs not used: Jake Leeker, Danilo Acosta, Adam Henley, Kyle Beckerman.
Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Joe Willis; Andrew Wenger (Adolfo Machado 86’), Alejandro Fuenmayor, Phillipe Senderos, DaMarcus Beasley; Darwin Ceren, Oscar Boniek Garcia; Memo Rodriguez, Tomas Martinez (Arturo Alvarez 89’), Romell Quioto (Ronaldo Pena 72’); Mauro Manotas.
Subs not used: Chris Seitz, Adam Lundqvist, Eric Alexander, Luis Gil.
Stats Summary: RSL / HOU
Shots: 25 / 12
Shots on Goal: 9 / 3
Saves: 2 / 7
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offside: 4 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (Caution) 33’
RSL: Aaron Herrera (Caution) 58’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Caution) 82’
RSL: Sunny (Caution) 87’
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Caution) 90’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Robert Sibiga
Video Assistant Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
