Dynamo take down Real Salt Lake to book place in US Open Cup final
Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal was a chance for the Houston Dynamo to take another step in their rebuild. A chance to get to a cup final and earn a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The stage was set and the lights weren’t too bright for this Dynamo team, at this time, as they took down Real Salt Lake 3-1 to book a place in the USOC final and next season’s Champions Cup.
Houston began the game on the front foot, pinning Real Salt Lake back in their own half but unable to get any clean looks on goal. Nelson Quinones had a few chances, firing wide of goal in the 14th minute and then getting a shot blocked in the 31st minute.
The game drew closer to halftime, with five minutes of stoppage added, and looked to be going to the break 0-0. In the final minute of five added minutes, RSL couldn’t get a ball clear from their own six yard box and Amine Bassi pounced on it. The Moroccan squared the ball to Hector Herrera and the captain one-timed it into the back of the net to break the deadlock.
The Dynamo thought they had a second goal in first half stoppage time when Corey Baird turned in a Coco Carrasquilla back heel. The goal went to a VAR review and was called back for Baird being offside in the buildup. As Herrera sent the free kick into the box, Baird was in an offside position and shielded Chicho Arango from trying to defend Carrasquilla. With the goal waved off, Houston would take a 1-0 lead to the locker room for half time.
Houston would continue their pressure in the second half but the away side did well to absorb the Dynamo attacks and counter. And that’s just what they did to find their equalizer. Substitute Aliyu Ibrahim couldn’t get a shot off from close range and RSL broke the other way. Anderson Julio found a pocket of space in the box and headed home to the near post off a cross to tie the game at 1-1.
Time and time again the Dynamo poured forward looking for a winner but they couldn’t find another goal in regulation. Escobar had a shot punched away and Carrasquilla just missed getting on the end of a Bassi chip. With the score tied at 1, the game would head to extra time.
Extra time began just as much of the game had played out, with Houston on the front foot and Real Salt Lake looking to counter. Herrera have it everything he had but was completely gassed and had to be replaced by Luis Caicedo in the 96th minute. As the clock approached half time, much as it did in regulation, the Dynamo would find their breakthrough on the same end of the field. Carrasquilla picked up the ball outside the box and drove forward. Just as the Panamanian got into the box he unleashed a low pile driving shot that gave MacMath no chance and sent Shell Energy Stadium into a frenzy. The whistle for the first half of extra time would blow moments later and the Dynamo took a 2-1 lead into the final 15 minutes.
The Dynamo were able to hold most of the possession, once again, in the second half of extra time to see out the game. Brayan Vera was sent off for RSL late in a moment of madness which all but sealed the away side’s fate. Just for good measure the Dynamo added a third with Amine Bassi’s third assist. Caicedo slammed into an open net to make the game 3-1. The Dynamo had done it, they beat Real Salt Lake, they booked a trip to Miami to take on Lionel Messi in the Open Cup final, and they earned a berth in next season’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
Houston and RSL, whatever is left of them, will meet again in three days time, this time in Utah for a MLS regular season match. We’ll see what kind of team the Dynamo have available at that match but for now, celebrate this one Houston. The Dynamo are on their way back and they’ve got a date with the goat on the national stage to try and cement it even further.
