Willy Agada scored before halftime on a corner kick and helped RSL sweep the Houston Dynamo
Real Salt Lake is back at it. A win at home against Houston has given the Claret and Cobalt a four-match unbeaten streak and back-to-back wins for the first time this season. RSL looked strong in attack, and it paid off with a 42nd-minute goal off a corner kick. Pablo Ruiz crossed it in, and Agada pounced on the deflection and slotted it home. RSL has found some strength in the attack, and it is going to be fun to watch.
Real Salt Lake would not have won this match without a few key pieces. Rafael Cabral had a few key saves, and a Noel Calaskan block in the second half kept Houston off the board. Additionally, RSL’s backline showed up to play and made it difficult for Houston to get anything on target. It was a team effort, and the win was well-deserved. RSL is finally clicking, and they are only four points out of a wild-card spot. There is hope in the air that RSL can still turn this season around.
RSL would get a few early chances, but it was Houston who had the majority of the ball in the first half. As RSL pushed and prodded, Houston showed vulnerability. RSL would prod and prod before William Agada’s breakthrough would send RSL to halftime with the lead. Later in the match, Diego Luna crossed the ball in, and Ari Piol attempted to bicycle kick the ball into the net, but the Dynamo goalkeeper, Johnathon Bond, saved the attempt and kept the match at 1-0.
Real Salt Lake has found a solid attacking game. The Claret and Cobalt tried a different formation, and they started generating solid chances. RSL only scored one goal, but had an xG of 1.8. The Claret and Cobalt have a good chance now to get themselves on track, and winning will only get them closer to the playoffs.
Three Takeaways from RSL’s 1-0 win over Houston
- The attack is clicking: RSL has now scored seven goals in the last four matches, and chances are being generated at a high rate. Since RSL is scoring, wins are starting to show up more.
- Cabral is a solid goalkeeper pick: Rafael Cabral is a brick wall. He has played every second for RSL, and his saves continue to impress.
- The backline is starting to figure it out: RSL’s defense showed improvement last match. RSL played strong and stayed touch tight, which is essential for this level of competion.
RSL had a good game against Houston and pulled off a regular-season sweep of the Dynamo. Offense, defense, and goalkeeping were all top-class. If RSL gets a few more good performances against other teams, they could find themselves in the playoff picture. The sky is the limit, and RSL has potential.
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