Real Salt Lake Holds On For First Road Win Against Houston Dynamo FC

HOUSTON – Real Salt Lake held strong down the stretch to take home a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo FC for their first road win of the 2025 season.

Diogo Gonçalves and Diego Luna were the goalscorers for RSL. Both scores were their first of the early season.

Although it’s far too early to look at standings, the win propelled Real Salt Lake into the postseason picture and dropped Houston to 14th in the West.

Real will return home for its next match next week against FC Dallas on Saturday, March 22.

Claimed the victory 🔥#HOUvRSL | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/mVHigHsHxA

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 16, 2025

Real Salt Lake Downs Dynamo In Houston

First Half

Real couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match at Shell Energy Stadium.

A chain of excellent passes starting at midfield led them down the pitch. Maneuvering through Dynamo defenders, Emeka Eneli set Gonçalves up in the center of the box. An easy chip shot from outside the five-yard box gave RSL a 1-0 lead less than a minute after the starting whistle.

RELATED: Diogo Gonçalves Opens Scoring In First Minute For RSL Against Houston

Similar to last week, the passing and the buildup are incredible. Eneli to Diego to Eneli to Diogo. @realsaltlake leads it early 1-0 at @HoustonDynamo @kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/go0QLrE3kH

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 16, 2025

The early advantage didn’t last for long though.

The next 15 minutes saw just one shot attempt—a miss to the right from Brayan Vera off a corner. Without Gonçalves’ early goal, neither side seemed to have the upper hand.

That ended up playing out to be true. In the 16th, Houston responded with a header from close range following a set-piece situation.

Ponce delivers. 💥

His first goal of the season brings @HoustonDynamo level! pic.twitter.com/uNUbkrqdls

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 16, 2025

Just like after RSL’s score, Ezequiel Ponce’s goal was followed by a long period of relatively even back-and-forth.

Although, Real was given a good scare in the 20th minute. The Dynamo found the back of the net again but after three minutes of VAR, the score was taken back with an offside call.

From then until the 45-minute mark, only one shot threatened a score. Ponce had an opportunity for a brace and a Houston lead, but his header from close range managed to sail wide of the left post.

Once stoppage time rolled around, both sides picked up the pace in hopes of holding a lead at the half.

The effort paid off as Real was able to break through before the whistle. Diego Luna created a highlight in front of the net as he redirected Dominik Marczuk’s attempt in what turned out to be an absolute banger of a header.

RELATED: Diego Luna Gives Real Salt Lake Lead With Near-Unsavable Header

No mask no problem as Diego Luna redirects a laser into the back of the net. @realsaltlake leads 2-1 at the break @kslsports | #RSL pic.twitter.com/5DL216pUM4

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 16, 2025

Thanks to Gonçalves and Luna, Real Salt Lake took a 2-1 lead into the half.

Second Half

Understandably, with their backs against the wall at home, the Dynamo came out of the locker room with a vengeance.

They got two shots off in the opening minutes of the half, neither was on frame. Gonçalves had the first shot on goal of the second 45′ but it was punched away from the top corner.

The next threatening chance for Houston wasn’t until the 64th minute. Ethan Bartlow and Ponce had consecutive looks on goal but the attempts painted the outside of the posts.

From Gonçalves’ attempt in the 52nd to just before full-time, neither side was able to put a shot on and force a save.

In the 88th, the Dynamo broke that trend. Bartlow had a header look from right in front of the net. RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral pushed the shot into the post and it bounced away.

RAFAEL CABRAL YOU HERO 🧤🧤#RSL

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 16, 2025

Three minutes of stoppage time were added to the end of the match. At the end of the extra time, Houston set up for a corner kick.

Two Dynamo players were at the spot of the cross. A miscommunication cost them a chance at a draw as they collided and the ball rolled out of bounds.

The full-time whistle was called and Real Salt Lake came out on top, 2-1.

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

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

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 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.

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram. 

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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