HOUSTON (Aug. 5, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC defeated Real Salt Lake 3-0 at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to finish atop their Leagues Cup group and advance to the Round of 32.
The Dynamo will host LIGA MX side Toluca FC on Friday, Aug. 9, with kickoff time to be confirmed. Tickets for the match are available via SeatGeek HERE.
Houston scored three first half goals for the first time since October last season when they put four past the Colorado Rapids in the first half at home.
The Dynamo opened scoring in the seventh minute when captain Héctor Herrera fired a rebound into the net from outside of the box on a slight deflection. The goal marked the MLS All-Star’s second goal of the year.
Houston doubled its lead in the 25th minute when defender Micael rose up to meet a strong set piece delivery of Herrera. The play marked the 23-year-old Brazilian’s first goal of the year, while Herrera recorded his fourth assist of the year.
The Dynamo netted a third first-half goal in the 42nd minute, when what looked like forward Ezequiel Ponce’s debut goal actually came off Salt Lake’s Justen Glad and was ruled an own goal. Defender Griffin Dorsey delivered a ball from the right side to create the opportunity.
Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who made his sixth appearance of the year, made a fingertip save in the 17th minute when a Salt Lake corner delivery fired off the head of Glad. The play marked the 30-year-old’s first of six saves on the night.
Tarbell stepped up again in the 22nd minute when Salt Lake found themselves on a break, but the goalkeeper spread himself out to quell the danger.
One minute later, defender Erik Sviatchenko took his chances from outside of the box, but his shot went just wide of the far post.
Tarbell went down to his near post in the 36th minute to cut off the angle and stop Anderson Julio’s goal from finding the back of the net.
Ponce had a chance to score in the 58th minute when Sviatchenko swung a cross in from the right side, but goalkeeper Gavin Beavers managed a quick reaction save.
Tarbell was called into action again in the 68th minute, making a diving save on direct free kick from Real Salt Lake. Minutes later, the goalkeeper dove down to his left to deflect a low shot out of danger.
Forward Lawrence Ennali flicked a ball inside the box to Ponce, who turned his body to create a shot, but his attempted deflected off the face off Beavers.
Ennali took his chances from distance in stoppage time, forcing a diving save from Beavers.
