Jul 3, 2024; Sandy, Utah, USA; Actual Salt Lake midfielder Braian Ojeda (6) celebrates after scoring a purpose in opposition to Houston Dynamo FC within the second half at America First Area. Necessary Credit score: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports activities Andres Gomez scored his eleventh purpose and assisted on two extra, Braian Ojeda put his group in entrance for good within the second half and Actual Salt Lake held on for a 3-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday in Sandy, Utah.
Diego Luna additionally scored a beautiful purpose from lengthy vary simply earlier than halftime as Salt Lake (11-3-7, 40 factors) preserved its seventh win in 10 house matches and moved right into a tie on factors atop the Western Convention with Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy, who meet on Thursday.
RSL overcame an early deficit one match after the Galaxy halted their 15-match unbeaten run on June 22.
The hosts lastly secured a 90-minute victory over the Dynamo (8-7-6, 30 factors) after failing to take action in six conferences in 2023 between the common season, U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup playoffs.
Ibrahim Aliyu scored his team-leading sixth purpose for Houston, which noticed its six-match unbeaten run finish, and Hector Herrera was concerned in a second-half leveler that was in the end credited as an personal purpose.
After Aliyu started the scoring within the eighth minute, Gomez started his large evening within the twenty second minute when he took an opportunity that he may catch the Dynamo protection napping.
RSL’s Bode Hidalgo gained a header at midfield however appeared to have directed it benignly towards Houston’s personal penalty space. As Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark and his defenders tried to kind out who ought to declare the ball, Gomez snuck between all of them to poke house a end.
Luna put Salt Lake in entrance 2-1 within the forty second minute when he took a move from Matt Crooks close to the left finish of the penalty arc, lower to his proper to evade a Houston defender and unleashed a robust 22-yard strike that beat Clark’s dive to the far submit.
Houston leveled 9 minutes after halftime when Herrera served an in-swinging early cross from the left that defender Andrew Brody redirected past his personal goalkeeper, Zac MacMath.
Ojeda replied with the winner within the 67th minute on one in every of RSL’s greatest attacking sequences.
Cristian Arango swept down the fitting and tried to play a give-and-go with Gomez into the penalty space. On the return move, Arango whiffed on his shot try. Nevertheless, Ojeda trailed the play, took a relaxed contact and guided an equally managed end into the underside proper nook.
–Area Degree Media