RSL Concedes Again Late, Drops 2-1 Decision at Houston

HOUSTON (Wed., Sept. 9, 2026) – Real Salt Lake (8-10-5 29 points, 10th West / 18th MLS Shield) conceded a late goal yet again Wednesday night, falling 2-1 away at Houston (13-7-4, 43 points, 2nd West / 4th MLS Shield) to snap its three-game win streak against the Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium. Several impact substitutions impressed for RSL, with newcomer Saba Lobjanidze subbing on to score his second goal in as many games, assisted by Lineker Rodrigues, who logged his first-ever MLS assist on the second-half equalizer.

The loss extended the Claret-and-Cobalt’s MLS winless streak to 10 games, dating back to May 23 - tied for the fourth-longest win drought in Club history. It also extended the Utah side’s run of away games without a victory, a stretch of 11 matches across all competitions dating back to March 7 at Atlanta. 

With 13 players unavailable for Wednesday’s match, RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni made five personnel changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s 2-2 draw against LAFC. On the backline, Kobi Henry started for the third time in five contests, while DeAndre Yedlin moved to right wingback in place of Alex Katranis. RSL Academy product Aiden Hezarkhani entered for the injured Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui, while newcomers Colin Guske and Jason Shokalook made their first-ever RSL starts.

The Dynamo created a few more chances than the visitors in the first half, the home side looking comfortable in possession. Houston came close to scoring on multiple occasions, forcing crucial interventions from RSL GK and Captain Rafael Cabral, who registered three saves before the break, including a vital one-on-one with Mateusz Bogusz in the 34th minute. RSL was unable to create much offensively, being held to just two shots in the entire half - neither of which were on target. 

Just before halftime, RSL defender Lukas Engel went down with a lower-body injury, adding to the extensive list of RSL players currently sidelined ahead of Saturday’s home match against New York City FC. Engel was replaced by Philip Quinton, making his first-ever appearance on the left side after three seasons with RSL.

RSL applied pressure coming out of the break, maintaining possession higher up the field in the early minutes of the second half. In the 51st minute, Diego Luna registered the visitors’ first shot on goal, his free kick saved by Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond. 

In the 57th minute, the Dynamo regained control of the match, as veteran Brazilian striker Guilherme scored the opener with a left-footed shot from outside the box that curled into the far- side netting. 

The breakthrough goal forced a response from RSL, with the Utah side instantly pushing for an equalizer. In the 76th minute, re-energized by fresh legs, the Claret-and-Cobalt found the tying goal, with two substitutes - Saba Lobjanidze and Lineker Rodriguez - combining to make it 1-1. Lineker, the former Real Monarchs player, played a masterful through ball into a streaking Saba, who calmly finished his 60-yard run with a chip over Bond. The goal was Saba’s second in as many games, made possible by Lineker’s first-ever MLS assist.

After being denied by Cabral on three separate occasions, Bogusz finally got his goal in the 87th minute, scoring with a powerful left-footed strike from an acute angle into the top left corner. The late goal was enough to give the home side the victory, further extending RSL’s rough run of form in MLS since returning from the FIFA World Cup break. 

Amidst the late chaos, 19-year-old RSL Academy product Owen Anderson subbed on to make his MLS debut in the 90th minute. Due to RSL’s injury epidemic, the teenager earned a short-term callup from Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro, where he has appeared in 70 matches over the last four seasons, since arriving in Herriman, Utah, in the fall of 2023. 

Real Salt Lake now returns to the Wasatch Front this weekend, where it will play a home game every Saturday of September. This Saturday, Sept. 12, RSL hosts New York City FC at America First Field, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available for purchase here.

GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY: 

HOU 2 : 1 RSL

LAFC: Guilherme (Lawrence Ennali) 57’: On the right flank, Lawrence Ennali cut back and passed the ball to Guilherme, who controlled the ball at the top of the box. The Brazilian took two touches before unleashing a left-footed shot that curled into the far post.  

RSL: Saba Lobjanidze (Lineker Rodrigues) 76’: Winning the ball in the middle of the field, Lineker started an RSL counter with a precise through-pass onto a streaking Saba. The Georgian international ran onto the ball and chipped the goalkeeper atop the six to make it 1-1. 

LAFC: Mateusz Bogusz (Guilherme) 87’: On the left side of the field, Guilherme switched the ball to the opposite touchline to Bogusz. The Polish international dribbled into the box and curled an unsaveable left-footed shot into the top left corner. 

NOTES FROM HOU 2 : 1 RSL

• RSL has seen players unavailable for 135 combined games through the first two thirds of the 2026 MLS season due to injury, suspension or visa issues … 13 players were unavailable to play on Wednesday, with a 14th - defender Lukas Engel - going down just before halftime … Several of tonight’s absences are expected to return for Saturday’s home match against NYCFC … 

• Recent acquisitions Colin Guske and Jason Shokalook made their first career RSL starts on Wednesday at Houston

• RSL Academy product Owen Anderson made his MLS debut on Wednesday. The 19-year-old earned a short-term callup from Real Monarchs of MLS NEXT Pro, where he has appeared in 70 matches over the last four seasons since the fall of 2023. 

• RSL newcomer Saba Lobjanidze scored his second goal in five days, now scoring in consecutive matches after notching his first-ever RSL goal against LAFC on Saturday. 

• 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick Lineker Rodrigues notched his first-ever MLS assist on Wednesday. 

• The Claret-and-Cobalt’s 10-game winless streak in MLS play is the longest since 2007, now tied for the fourth-longest in Club history, dating back to May 23, 2026; while its 11-game road winless run is now the third-longest in the Club’s 22 seasons

LINEUPS:

Real Salt Lake (3-4-2-1): Rafael Cabral ©; Kobi Henry, Juan Jose Arias, Lukas Engel (Philip Quinton, 46’); Noel Caliskan, Colin Guske (Owen Anderson, 90+1’), DeAndre Yedlin (Alex Katranis, 70’), Juan Manuel Sanabria; Aiden Hezarkhani, Deigo Luna (Saba Lobjanidze, 70’); Jason Shokalook (Lineker Rodrigues, 70’)

Subs not used: Mason Stajduhar, Philip Quinton, Luca Moisa, Liam O’Gara, Ruben Mesalles, 

Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni

Houston Dynamo FC (5-3-2): Jonathan Bond; Lawrence Ennali (Duane Holmes, 90+1’), Antonio Carlos, Artur ©, Lucas Halter, Franco Negri; Mateusz Bogusz, Agustin Bouzat (Diadie Samassekou, 69’), Hector Herrera (Matthew Arana, 80’); Guilherme, Ibrahim Aliyu (Duncan McGuire, 80’)

Subs not used: Blake Gillingham, Nick Markanich, Vinicius Silva, Agustin Resch, Gilberto Rivera

Head Coach: Ben Olsen

Stats Summary: HOU / RSL

Shots: 12 / 9

Shots on Goal: 6 / 4

Saves: 2 / 4

Corner Kicks: 1 / 4

Fouls: 7 / 18

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RSL: Diego Luna (Yellow Card - 30’)

RSL: Juan Arias (Yellow Card - 33’) 

HOU: Hector Herrera (Yellow Card - 54’) 

RSL: Colin Guske (Yellow Card - 67’) 

RSL: Philip Quinton (Yellow Card - 90+5’)