Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo were beaten at home again, falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
MATCH SUMMARY
Houston Dynamo FC 1-2 Real Salt Lake
Saturday, March 15, 2025
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium - Houston, Texas
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Assistants: Mike Nickerson, Nick Balcer
Fourth Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Attendance: 15,263
Weather: 73 degrees, partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL: Diogo Goncalves (Emeka Eneli) 1’
HOU: Ezequiel Ponce (Jack McGlynn) 16’
RSL: Diego Luna (Dominik Marczuk) 45+5’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Franco Escobar (caution; dissent) 45+5’
RSL: Bode Hidalgo (caution; foul) 45+8’
HOU: Ethan Bartlow (caution; foul) 58’
HOU: Ezequiel Ponce (caution; dissent) 90+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Houston Dynamo FC: Andrew Tarbell (Jimmy Maurer 37’); Franco Escobar (Daniel Steres 81’), Femi Awodesu, Ethan Bartlow, Griffin Dorsey; Artur, Amine Bassi, Jack McGlynn; Nico Lodeiro (Erik Dueñas 75’), Ezequiel Ponce, Sebastian Kowalczyk (Gabe Segal 81’)
Unused substitutes: Brooklyn Raines, Michael Halliday, Aliyu Ibrahim, Júnior Urso, Exon Arzú
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 9
Offside: 4
Corner kicks: 9
Saves: 3
Real Salt Lake: Rafael Cabral; Bode Hidalgo, Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Samuel Junqua; Braian Ojeda (Nelson Palacio 68’), Emake Eneli, Diego Luna (Pablo Ruiz 79’), Diogo Gonçalves Dominik Marczuk (Tyler Wolff 57’); Ariath Piol (Foster Ajago 68’)
Unused Substitutes: Lachlan Brook, Philip Quinton, Mason Stajduhar, Javain Brown, Alexandros Katranis
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 13
Offside: 0
Corner kicks: 6
Saves: 1
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN
On Ezequiel Ponce’s goal:
“It is good to have your nine scoring goals. We were dangerous on set pieces and service the whole night, and we looked like ourselves offensively. We had a lot of chances to at least tie, if not win, but we will get back to work in training. We don’t want to be in this position, but I hope the fans saw a team that can respond and play at high level tonight. It’s just a matter time before we are back to our winning ways.”
On the mood of the locker room:
“Now more than ever we must stay together. This locker room knows we are in this together, and we will get out of it together. I’ve been in this position before, and it’s not easy, but I’ve also pushed team’s out of this position.”
Olsen’s full press conference is available on our YouTube channel:
HOUSTON DYNAMO FORWARD EZEQUIEL PONCE
Sobre el gol:
“Era bueno anotar pero la situación que estamos pasando no es la ideal. Al momento, no veo por qué fijarme en lo personal. Quiérenos ganar y me voy a poner contento cuando el equipo empiece a ganar y disfrutar de tanto trabajado que hacemos día a día. Hoy no pudimos llevar los tres puntos y es algo que a mí y a todos mis compañeros nos duele mucho. Estoy agradecido por la gente que vino a ver el partido, que nos siga apoyando aun en los malos momentos. Nuestro objetivo es ganar y recompensar a nuestros fans en el siguiente partido con una victoria.”
On scoring his first goal of the season (translated from Spanish):
“It was good to score, but the position we're in just isn't ideal. I don't want to focus on the personal right now. We want to win, and I'll be happy when the team starts winning and enjoying the work we put in every day at training. We didn’t get the three points today, and that's something that really the hurts the team. I'm grateful for the fans that came to the game and who continue to support us even in the bad times. Our goal is to win and hopefully reward our fans with a victory in our next game.”
Sobre la conexión con sus compañeros:
“Intentamos poner todo a disposición del equipo, de estar conectados y sacar el potencial de cada uno de nuestros compañeros. Es fundamental intentar hacer lo mejor posible para pasar este mal momento que estamos viviendo. El único camino que conocemos nosotros es pa arriba y seguir trabajando. Debemos estar unidos y desde mañana, pensar en Seattle y mostrar no una mejor imagen, si no una mejor atención en cada detalle del partido.”
On his connection with teammates (translated from Spanish):
“We try to push everyone on the team to the limit and unleash each of our teammates’ potential, while staying connected. It’s essential to do our best to stay together through this difficult time. The only way from here is up. We have to keep together starting tomorrow, and put our focus on Seattle and show a greater attention to detail in the game.”
REFEREE’S RESPONSE TO POOL REPORTER QUESTION
Question: On the disallowed goal in the 20th minute by Amine Bassi, what action from Ezequiel Ponce warranted him to be considered offside and therefore the goal be waved off?
Response: Houston #10 Ezequiel Ponce was in an offside postion at the moment the ball was shot by a teammate. He prevented the goalkeeper from being able to see or play the ball by clearly obstructing his line of vision.
