The dream ends in Houston: Frustrated RSL pushed out of Open Cup by Dynamo
The dream ends in Houston: Frustrated RSL pushed out of Open Cup by Dynamo
Houston out-shot Salt Lake 30-11, including 10 shots on goal to just two for the visitors, with 67% of possession to eliminate RSL from Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
Real Salt Lake’s dreams of hoisting silverware in the 2023 season took a hit Wednesday night.
Coco Carrasquilla’s right-footed take right at the halfway mark of extra time helped Houston to a 3-1 win over RSL and punched the Dynamo’s ticket to next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup by clinching a spot in next month’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.
Luis Caicedo finished an assist from Amine Bassi, his second of the match, for the final margin for Houston, which advanced to the Open Cup final for the first time since 2018.
Anderson Julio scored the lone goal of the match for RSL, which ended the match down a man after Bryan Vera was sent off with a red card for his role in a violent-conduct affair in the 116th minute.
Because the infraction was amended from a second yellow to a red card, the penalty will be automatically reviewed for additional suspension by the Open Cup’s disciplinary board, as well.
“It was a tough match,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. “We knew coming here coming against this group, it was going to be a tough match. I’m really proud of the way the guys fought to get back in the game. But I think on the night, we just weren’t good enough with the ball.”
With a spot in next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup on the line after Leagues Cup champions Inter Miami rallied to edge FC Cincinnati 5-4 on penalty kicks in the first semifinal, RSL made four changes to its starting lineup from its previous outing.
That included the forward duo of Chicho Arango with captain Damir Kreilach; Diego Luna on the left and Jefferson Savarino on the right, and a midfield pivot of Braian Ojeda and Jasper Loffelsend; and the center back tandem of Justen Glad and Brayan Vera.
But Houston took advantage first, scoring in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time as Hector Herrera took advantage of MacMath playing off his line to go up 1-0 at the break.
The hosts nearly doubled the lead a minute later, when former RSL Homegrown Corey Baird buried the ball in the back of the net. But after a review from above (aka VAR), the goal was called back with Baird judged to be in an offside position.
It was the biggest difference of the first half for Houston, which held 66.9% of possessions but only managed five shots with a 2-1 edge in shots on target.
But Julio, the halftime sub replacing Luna, made an immediate impact for Salt Lake. The Ecuadorian rose up like a salmon (shout out, Brian Dunseth), flicked a header on from Jefferson Savarino, and pulled the visitors level in the 65th minute, 1-1.
It was Julio’s 12th goal off the bench in three seasons for RSL, tying Robbie Findley for the most in the club’s all-time history, and arguably cementing Julio as one of the strikers who can stretch the field best in this Salt Lake lineup.
It’s a point proven even more necessary as RSL adapts to play without injured midfielder Pablo Ruiz, who is out several months with a knee injury.
“I don’t think in the first half, we did a really good job of threatening behind; I think we got in once with Chicho,” Mastroeni said. “But we had too many guys coming back for the ball. And when you have your front line always coming back for the ball, you make the spaces in midfield difficult to play in.
“I go back to Pablo, because he’s been a catalyst with those penetrating balls, switching the point of attack, and balls in beyond. Everyone in the first half was coming to feed, and so I think that’s something to learn from. It’s got to be a part of our M.O., especially away from home. We’ve got to be able to stretch the field better, and put pressure on our opponents. Tonight, we didn’t have that.”
Houston out-shot RSL 21-9 in regulation, including six attempts on goal. But Zac MacMath stood tall after allowing the first goal, making five saves with a 1.54 xGA through 90 minutes to keep the two sides knotted and send the match into extra time.
Carrasquilla gave the lead back to the Dynamo in the final moments of the first half of extra time, giving Houston the lead with its 27th shot and eighth shot on goal on a night when RSL finished with just two.
Houston will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final Wednesday, Sept. 27 at DRV PNK Stadium in Miami.
RSL, meanwhile, returns home quickly to host its first MLS match since play was suspended for the month-long Leagues Cup competition Saturday.
The club’s opponent? Houston Dynamo FC (7:30 p.m. MT, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+).