Houston Dynamo at Real Salt Lake - MLS Cup Playoffs: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo fell in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake in Game 2 of their best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Game 3 will now decide who advances, with kickoff set for 5:00 PM on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium
MATCH SUMMARY
Real Salt Lake 1-1 (5-4) Houston Dynamo FC
Monday, November 6, 2023
Venue: America First Field - Sandy, Utah
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistants: Chris Wattam, Brian Poeschel
Fourth Official: Armando Villareal
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Attendance: 20,251
Weather: 58 degrees, mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
HOU: Amine Bassi (unassisted) 28’
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (unassisted) 70’
Shootout:
HOU: Amine Bassi – MISS
RSL: Cristian Arango – MAKE
HOU: Adalberto Carrasquilla – MAKE
RSL: Damir Kreilach – MAKE
HOU: Thorleifur Úlfarsson – MAKE
RSL: Jefferson Savarino – MAKE
HOU: Griffin Dorsey – MAKE
RSL: Brayan Vera – MAKE
HOU: Nelson Quiñónes – MAKE
RSL: Diego Luna – MAKE
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Steve Clakr (caution; time wasting) 16’
HOU: Amine Bassi (caution; foul) 17’
RSL: Justen Glad (caution; foul) 27’
RSL: Braian Ojeda (caution; foul) 33’
HOU: Griffin Dorsey (caution; foul) 48’
RSL: Brayan Vera (caution; foul) 52’
HOU: Adalberto Carrasquilla (caution; foul) 69’
HOU: Erik Sviatchenko (caution; foul) 71’
LINEUPS & STATS
Real Salt Lake: Zac MacMath (c), Bryan Oviedo, Brayan Vera, Justen Glad, Andrew Brody, Diego Luna, Nelson Palacio, Braian Ojeda, Jefferson Savarino, Anderson Julio (Cristian Arango 55’), Andrés Gómez (Damir Kreilach 90+4’)
Unused Substitutes: Rubio Rubín, Maikel Chang, Danny Musovski, Emeka Eneli, Jasper Löffelsend, Kevon Lambert, Gavin Beavers
Total shots: 14 (Brayan Vera 4)
Shots on goal: 3 (three players tied with 1)
Fouls: 21 (three players tied with 4)
Offside: 4 (Andrés Gómez and Jefferson Savarino tied with 2)
Corner kicks: 7
Saves: 4 (Zac MacMath 4)
Houston Dynamo FC: Steve Clark, Franco Escobar (Teenage Hadebe 75’), Micael, Erik Sviatchenko, Griffin Dorsey, Héctor Herrera (c), Artur, Nelson Quiñónes, Amine Bassi, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Corey Baird (Aliyu Ibrahim 68’ [Thorleifur Úlfarsson 90+4’])
Unused substitutes: Ethan Bartlow, Daniel Steres, Iván Franco, Andrew Tarbell, Luís Caicedo, Sebastian Kowalczyk
Total shots: 7 (Amine Bassi 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (Amine Bassi 2)
Fouls: 14 (Adalberto Carrasquilla 3)
Offside: 1 (Nelson Quiñónes 1)
Corner kicks: 4
Saves: 2 (Steve Clark 2)
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN
On the match:
“It was a scrappy game that had more of a playoff feel to it, with the intensity and the physicality compared to the last game against Salt Lake. Overall, we defended pretty well against a dangerous team that throws a bunch of numbers in there and they have a talented group. Proud we got to penalty kicks and unfortunately they went the wrong way."
On his expectations for Game 3:
"We need that place rocking to give us the same homefield advantage that they had tonight. I've got no doubt the fans will show up. They showed up for the last game. This one is do or die, the rubber match, it's going to be great."
On the expectations around the team:
"This is playoff soccer and there's a real energy, commitment, more fouls and tackles. We have to find a way to combat that. For the most part, we did that with the physicality. I thought we did pretty well in that department. I love the expectations now that the Houston Dynamo have. We were expected to go into Salt Lake and beat them by a few goals. That is hard to do. They're a very good team and they almost had as many points in the league as we did. They have a pretty formidable attack. To try and keep them off the board is a very tough thing to do. They got one and we got one. We lost in a penalty shootout and now we have a must-win game at home."
HOUSTON DYNAMO DEFENDER ERIK SVIATCHENKO
On the match:
"It was an even battle. They scored on a really good free kick, which then led to the momentum change in the game. We didn't really get the control of the game that we wanted to in the last 25 minutes of the game. This format is made for entertainment, and we are getting that 100 percent. Even though I, of course, wanted to progress and not go into a third game. I am 100 percent confident that at home we are very strong, and we will advance. My eyes are already set on that game and to get fully fit for Saturday."
On securing home-field advantage for Round One of the Best-of-3 series:
"I don't mind it. I didn't think there were tackles that were outrageous. There were some tackles that were clear yellow cards. That's football. That's the game sometimes, both teams want to win and sometimes you want to win a little bit too much and then you do a tackle and you get a yellow card. For me, it's not a problem. I didn't feel that it was a problem for our team. We stood our ground and in general, kept our cool. Sometimes, as the game develops the referee needs to make a lot of decisions and he had to do that today."
