Mateusz Bogusz scored a match-winner in the 87th minute for the Houston Dynamo, who defeated visiting Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Bogusz’s goal helped the Dynamo snap a three-match winless streak (0-1-2) while securing a split of the season series against RSL.
Salt Lake (8-10-5, 29 points) saw its winless skid reach 10 matches (0-6-4).
Just over 10 minutes after Saba Lobjanidze tied things at 1-1 in the 76th minute, Bogusz put Houston (13-7-4, 43 points) ahead for good in the 87th minute. He took a pass from Guilherme inside the penalty area, gathered himself, and lifted a curling, left-footed strike past RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral for his fifth goal of the season.
After a scoreless first half, Guilherme scored the opener in the 57th minute, his 13th goal of the season. Lawrence Ennali’s pass found the Brazilian midfielder, who ventured to the top of the box and laced a soaring shot beyond Cabral and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. It was Guilherme’s first goal since Aug. 15.
That lead lasted until the 76th minute, when Lobjanidze, a 70th-minute substitute for Diego Luna, pulled RSL level at 1-1 with his third goal of the season and his second since being traded from Atlanta United on July 1.
Houston, though, pulled back in front through Bogusz, as it improved to 8-2-2 at Shell Energy Stadium. RSL fell to 1-8-3 on the road.
Dynamo goalkeeper Jonathan Bond ended the evening with a pair of saves on three shots faced. Santos made four saves on six attempts.
Guilherme’s assist on Bogusz’s goal was his team-high eighth of the season. His 13 goals are tied with five other players for third in the league.
Houston has allowed just one goal in its past three matches.
–Field Level Media
