Houston Dynamo lose third straight home match
(image via Aldo Canale)
After losing two straight matches at Shell Energy Stadium to open the 2025 season, the Houston Dynamo got a point on the road against the Columbus Crew in a result that looked to change some momentum. Now back at home Saturday night against a struggling Real Salt Lake, the ingredients looked to be there for the momentum of last week to lead to the first win of the season for Houston. That, however, did not happen.
The away side wasted absolutely no time in getting the game going, scoring less than 60 seconds after kickoff. Real Salt Lake broke from their own half and Diego Luna slipped a ball into the box for Emeka Eneli. He squared in front where Diogo Goncalves was all alone to slot the ball past Andrew Tarbell and make it 1-0 in the first minute.
The Dynamo found their equalizer in the 16th minute. A free kick on the left side was whipped into the box by Jack McGlynn and Ezequiel Ponce met the ball six yards out and headed into the net to tie the game at 1-1. It was Ponce’s first goal of the season, and one Houston needed it from its Designated Player.
Four minutes later, the Dynamo thought they had the lead. A cross from Sebastian Kowalczyk was headed out of the box but Amine Bassi was first to it. He took a touch and then smashed the ball past RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral. Referee Marcos de Oliveira was called to the monitor and after a review, the goal was waved off. Ponce was judged to be in an offside position and interfering with Cabral seeing the shot.
In the 32nd minute, Ponce had a chance at his brace as a cross was floated into the six yard box. The striker collided with Griffin Dorsey, causing his header to lack any power or accuracy, and it floated wide of the goal.
Houston was dealt a blow in the 35th minute when goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell went down. The Dynamo training staff looked at his knee for a couple of minutes and even after a brief jog, Tarbell headed straight back to the locker room. Backup Jimmy Maurer came into the match.
On the stroke of half time, Salt Lake regained their lead through their star Diego Luna. Dominik Marczuk cut to get space away from Franco Escobar and fired a ball toward goal. Luna timed his run to perfection to meet the cross and head it past Maurer in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time to put the away side ahead 2-1 as the first half came to an end.
Down a goal at home, with a full half of soccer to play, the Dynamo tried to put together dangerous chances in the second half. With Real Salt Lake defending a lead and the Dynamo pressing to score, they pressed to find a break through.
The first chance to tie the match came in the 64th minute. A scramble in the box after a corner kick eventually came across the box towards Femi Awodesu. The defender swung and missed at a shot attempt from close range and the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
As the clock ticked toward 90 minutes, Ethan Bartlow looked to have found himself a golden chance. His header was right at Cabral, however, the RSL goalkeeper making himself big to block the shot from close range with his face and keep the Dynamo off the score sheet.
The final whistle blew at Shell Energy Stadium with the Dynamo now taking zero of a possible nine points at home and just one point in their first four matches of 2025. Things will not get any easier with Houston traveling to Seattle next weekend, a place they have never won. After that they head to Portland and then take on both Los Angeles teams. The slow to start is officially concerning.
