Houston Dynamo FC suffered a 2-1 defeat to Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night. Forward Ezequiel Ponce netted his first goal of the season, assisted by midfielder Jack McGlynn, who recorded his first helper for the club.
Real Salt Lake struck first in the opening minute when Emake Eneli set up Diogo Gonçalves for a right-footed finish from the center of the box.
Houston responded in the 16th minute as Ponce powered in a header at the back post following a well-placed free-kick delivery from McGlynn. However, Salt Lake regained the lead just before halftime when Diego Luna converted a header off a cross from Dominik Marczuk in stoppage time.
Dynamo goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer made his club debut in the 37th minute, replacing an injured Andrew Tarbell. Maurer later denied a dangerous effort from Gonçalves in the 53rd minute, making a leaping save to keep Houston within striking distance.
Houston had multiple opportunities to equalize. In the 20th minute, Amine Bassi’s powerful strike found the bottom left corner, but a VAR review overturned the goal due to an offside call on Ponce. The Dynamo came close again in the 32nd minute when Ponce’s header, following a clever buildup involving Sebastian Kowalczyk and Nico Lodeiro, narrowly missed the far post.
Defender Ethan Bartlow nearly salvaged a late draw in the 88th minute, rising to meet a McGlynn cross at the far post. His header forced a reflex save, with the ball ricocheting off the post in the dying moments.
Up next, Houston hosts the El Salvador National Team in a friendly at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday, March 19, before returning to league action against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, March 22. Those tickets can be purchased here.
