After a rough first half full of Rafael Cabral heroics, Real Salt Lake found form and scored three goals.
Gozo, this kid is good. A brace from the 18-year-old helped RSL defeat Houston is spectacular fashion. On top of that, a bizarre own goal on a long throw-in from DeAndre Yedlin, this was a great second half. While the first half was rough, RSL stayed strong and didn’t let a goal in. Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral was electric and made several huge saves to keep Houston off the scoresheet. The match was electric, and RSL suffocated Houston, with the Dynamo struggling in the thin mountain air.
Real Salt Lake had no shots on target, and only two shots overall in the first half, but had two shots on target, plus the Houston own goal from Duane Holmes, in the second half. Real Salt Lake had 51% of possession and 88% pass accuracy, The only yellow card was shown to AgustÃn Bouzat in the first half. RSL was on the front foot in the second half, and got a clean sheet, despite being outshot. RSL had a slow start, but they stepped up with the introduction of Diego Luna and Sergi Solans at halftime.
RSL had several good chances. The finishing still needs some work, but it has improved. Zavier Gozo was electric, and his brace was a perfect show of his talent and skill. Plus, the throw-in that set up the own goal was perfectly placed. That was a weird sequence, but it was a very-well played long throw. RSL was aggressive, and they deserved the win today. My Man of the Match was definitely Rafael Cabral. Four saves in the match tonight, and a couple of key passes.
Three Takeaways from RSL’s 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo FC
- Zavier Gozo is brilliant: Zavier Gozo scored a brace today, scoring in the 57th minute and then again in the 64th minute. Gozo is not one to back down from a challenge, and RSL would be wise to keep him around.
- Good things happen when the ball is in the box: As we saw in the 49th minute Duane Holmes own goal, good things happen when the ball is in the chaos in the box. A bad header and then a failed clearance by Holmes open the floodgates that lead to the two Gozo goals.
- RSL is dangerous on the counterattack: RSL had two transition goals tonight, and they keep getting easy goals. RSL should keep attacking, and really hone in on the counterattacks.
Overall, it was a great win for RSL. Gozo and Cabral shone, and the Yedlin throw-in was key to the win. RSL had a lot of success on the counterattack. This team can really win matches with this speed, especially at home where they play at elevation. This team is a winner, and there is a lot of positives to take away from it. A win is always a good thing, and RSL earned their second clean sheet of the season tonight. Cabral is a hero again and again, and this team was fully connected in the second half as Houston tired in the thin mountain air. RSL should take this win, and build on it for Saturday against Colorado.
