Houston Dynamo - Real Salt Lake summary: score, goals, highlights | MLS Cup Playoffs
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake: As it happened
Houston Dynamo booked their place in the MLS Cup Conference Semi-finals with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Real Salt Lake.
The best-of-three series was tied going into Game Three, meaning that the winner on Saturday night would progress to take on LAFC in the next round.
Houston forward Corey Baird fired his side ahead in the first half with a well-taken goal. RSL fought back after the break and Diego Luna headed home to level the match and the tie.
With the scores level at full time the game went to a penalty shoot-out. Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark made himself a hero, saving Luna's spot kick. That gave Griffin Dorsey the chance to send his team through to the semi-final and the Houston full-back made no mistake from 12 yards.
Watch: Griffin Dorsey scores winning penalty
Here's the moment that Griffin Dorsey, a right back who only nailed down his place in the second half of the season, booked Houston Dynamo's place in the Conference Semi-final.
What a moment!
Veteran goalkeeper Steve Clark was the penalty shootout hero for Houston Dynamo. The 37-year-old saved one spot kick and clung onto another that cannoned back of the post, setting up his team's victory over Real Salt Lake.
Ahead of the game he spoke exclusively to AS USA to gauge the mood in the Houston camp..
Playoff heartbreak for young star Diego Luna
Many would argue that Diego Luna has been the player of the series between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake. The 20-year-old scored three times in three matches and scored the decisive wining penalty in the Game Two shootout.
However the youngster was left in tears after missing a crucial spot kick in the Game Three penalty shootout. Houston go through to the Conference Semi-final but Luna has underscored his reputation as one of the most exciting yforwards in MLS.
Houston celebrates dramatic playoff victory
After 270 minutes of playoff action, Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake needed penalties to decide who would make it through to the Conference Semi-finals.
In the end it came down to just one spot kick, which Griffin Dorsey tucked away coolly. Houston will now take on reigning MLS Cup holders LAFC in the next round.
Griffin Dorsey keeps his cool for Houston
He was one of the best players across the 90 minutes and the Houston Dynamo right back scored the decisive spot kick for his team. Diego Luna and Daniel Musovski faltered for RSL and Houston took full advantage.
Houston Dynamo through after penalty shoot-out victory
What a scene in Houston as the hosts beat RSL on penalties to book a playoff clash with LAFC in the next round! Semi-finals for Houston, heartbreak for RSL.
Playoff soccer at its very best!
Dorsey - SCORES
GRIFFIN DORSEY SCORES AND HOUSTON DYNAMO ARE THROUGH!
It's Griffin Dorsey with the potential game-winning spot kick!
Can Dorsey keep his nerve and send Houston to the semi-finals?
To recap - four penalties taken by each team so far, three scored apiece.
Quinones - MISSES
The young Colombian's penalty is saved by Macmath.
We're all square after four spot kicks apiece!
Bassi - SCORES
Macmath got a hand on it but it sneaks past him.
Houston have the lead!
What a noise from the Houston crowd as Steve Clark punches the air!
What a moment that could be in this tie!
Luna - MISSES
He was the hero for RSL in Game Two but tonight his spot kick is saved by Steve Clark!
Four penalties taken, four scored.
Ulfarsson - SCORES
Very cool penalty from the Houston substitute, stroking the ball into the bottom corner.
Rubio - SCORES
The substitute makes no mistake from 12 yards, sending Clark the wrong way.
Carrasquilla - SCORES
The Panamanian levels up with a well-taken spot kick.
Chicho Arango - SCORES
RSL score to start this shoot-out.
Incredible pressure for these penalty takers tonight.
Just five days ago these two teams played out another penalty shoot-out, with RSL coming out on top. How will that change their tactics for these penalties?
We're about to find out...
We go to penalties!
Houston couldn't quite fashion a late chance and the game ends all square.
For the second consecutive game, we go to a penalty shoot-out!
There could be one final chance for Houston here...
Referee stops the game to intervene in some penalty box pushing.
The corner kick comes in and Houston do well to clear up field.
RSL win another corner kick, but it doesn't look like they're in any rush to take it.
The home crowd do not like that...
There will be two minutes of added time, then we're onto penalties!
Final substitution for RSL as Savarino is replaced by Musovski.
We're into the final minute of the regulation time now and this series is still perfectly poised. Unless anyone finds a dramatic late winner, it looks like we're heading to a penalty shootout to decide which team will progress to the Conference Finals...
Chance! Houston
A long spell of Houston play ends with the ball bouncing around the RSL box. Ulfarsson is first to react but Macmath gets down well to save his header.
Houston come forward again with Dorsey but the full back's cross is cleared by RSL.
The clearance doesn't go far and Houston are back on the attack. The home support are on their feet againn ow...
Close! RSL
Brilliant play from Arango to curl in a cross from the left flank. Rubio is first to react and connects well with the ball, but his effort is off-target.
RSL win a free kick on the halfway line and pump the ball forward to Arango. He does brilliantly to bring the ball down and RSL shuffle further up the pitch.
And now Houston make their fist change; goalscorer Baird comes off for Ulfarsson.
Second substitution for RSL sees Gomez replaced by Rubio.
Amine Bassi gets on the ball for Houston on the edge of the box and looks to whip the ball towards goal.
MacMath saves comfortably but Bassi is down after receiving a whack on the foot.
Another decent opening for Houston, this time for Quinones on the left wing. He's in on goal, at a narrow angle, but can't curl the ball past MacMath.
ICYMI: Diego Luna levels for RSL
Here's the equalizer from Diego Luna. The young forward made no mistake with a perfectly-placed header.
More good play from Houston, who are now starting to push forward. Quinones has a decent effort from the edge of the box and Herrera whips in a teasing ball from the right.
Houston are not willing to let this game drift to penalties!
Nearly calamity for RSL!
Mix-up at the back saw Houston RSL goalkeeper MacMath lose the ball on the edge of the 18 but Herrera couldn't punish the mistake.
Big moment in this tie!
Heading into the final 15 minutes of normal time, this game really is too close to call now. Neither team look entirely settled in the midfield and some players are starting to tire.
Will we see some substitutions soon?
Chance! Houston
Decent chance for Carrasquilla on the edge of the box. The Panamanian cut inside onto his left foot but his curled effort goes well wide of the goal.
Dorsey clips the ball across to the back post, where Herrera is lurking. Eneli just gets back to clear the danger and Houston win a corner kick.
Brayan Vera whips in a left-footed corner but it's rebuffed by Houston. Hector Herrera plays a brilliant diagonal ball to get Dorsey sweeping forward on the right.
RSL are looking like the team in the ascendency after that goal.
Savarino and Gomez battle well to disrupt the Houston defence and win a corner for their side.
What now for Houston Dynamo? They had been a little passive in the second half and have been punished for taking their collective foot off the gas pedal.
Is it time for a substitution?
Goooooooaaaaal! Real Salt Lake
Almost out of nothing, RSL are level!
Diego Luna is the man who reacts quickest when the ball is curled into the Houston box and he nods the ball past Steve Clark.
It's all to play for!
Hector Herrera whips in the corner kick but it flies into the side-netting.
A mis-kick from the Houston captain there.
Close! Houston
Griffin Dorsey flies down the left wing and pulls the ball back to Corey Baird on the penalty spot. The Houston scorer looks to curl the ball into the bottom corner but his effort is deflected and spins just over the crossbar.
So close to a second for Houston.
RSL have shown more ambition since the break but they are starting to leave gaps in the midfield. If Houston can find a bit more composure, they could be dangerous on the counter-attack.
Houston have a free kick in a decent position but, once again, they are careless on the ball and lose possession.
Brilliant play from Hector Herrera as he brings the ball out of the Houston defence, gliding past two challenges.
He is eventually caught by a late challenge and the Houston captain is down on the halfway line.
Scrappy spell of play as neither team can keep hold of the ball for more that a few passes. Houston are struggling to progress the ball up the field and RSL are starting to find gaps in the Houston defence.
Chance! RSL
Good play from the visitors to find Arango on the left side of the box. The Colombian pulls the ball back to Savarino but his right-footed shot is deflected out for a corner.
We haven't seen anything from Chicho Arango so far. The Colombian made a real impact when he came off the bench in Utah, but he's struggled get into the game so far tonight.
Steve Clark comes out well to punch the ball clear, RSL win another corner kick on the opposite side.
The ball comes out to Brayan Vera. The RSL defender's shot flies well over the bar.
The Houston crowd have started the second half with a real buzz.
RSL win a corner kick on the right, a chance for them to threaten the Houston goal.
Carrasquilla has looked more lively in the opening stages of the first half.
He drifts forward on the right and whips in a cross that's just too long for Baird.
Houston begin the second half on top once again, enjoying a good spell of possession in the RSL half.
Halftime change for RSL, Chicho Arango comes on to replace Anderson Julio.
Can he make the difference in the second hal?
And we're back!
RSL get us underway in the second half...
Corey Baird fires Houston ahead
Here's another angle of that opener for Houston. It was a good ball lifted into the box by Quinones and a clever header back across the face of goal from Herrera.
When it landed at the left boot of Corey Baird the Houston forward made no mistake.
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That Houston goal was a huge moment for Corey Baird, but has also made history for team captain Hector Herrera. The Mexican played the pass for Baird's strike, taking his assist tally for the season to 18.
Combined with the five goals scored by Herrera, he has now equalled the club record for most goal involvements in a single season.
Houston goes wild for Corey Baird opener!
What a time for Corey Baird to score his first-ever playoff goal! The Houston Dynamo forward is not always the most clinical finisher but he made no mistake when Hector Herrera nodded the ball into his path after a goalmouth scramble.
Halftime in Houston!
After the opening 45 minutes, it's Houston Dynamo who are heading to the Conference semi-finals against LAFC.
RSL have 45 minutes to keep their playoff journey alive.
Houston reclaim possession and work the ball to Carrasquilla on the edge of the box. He tries his luck from range but his shot flies over the crossbar.
Strong recovery tackle from Eneli to win the ball back for RSL
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.
Houston quickly win the ball back and are on the offensive once again.
Can the hosts muster one more chance in the first half?
Brilliant through ball from Hector Herrera to get Houston moving forward again. The ball is played back to Artur but the midfielder's cross-field pass drifts out of play for a RSL goal kick.
Braian Ojeda
The RSL midfielder is down after a clash of heads near the touchline.
Good ball in from Herrera, met by the head of Micael in the box. He can't direct his header on target and RSL win a goal kick.
Hector Herrera wins a free kick, just inside the RSL box. Houston play it quickly to get Dorsey sweeping forward on the right wing.
Dorsey's cross is deflected out for a Houston corner.
RSL start with the ball from the back and play a raking ball over to Savarino on the right. He immediately looks to whip in a cross for Julio in the box but it sails over the forward's head.
The visitors have been a bit too direct so far, giving up possession too easily after regaining the ball.
WATCH: Herrera and Baird combine for Houston opener
Here's breakthrough goal for Houston, an instinctive finish from Corey Baird. Herrera played the initial ball into the box and followed his pass, nodding the ball back for Baird to poke home.
Carrasquilla plays a long pass towards Quinones in the box but he can't connect with a very ambitious bicycle kick.
Once again there's space on the right for Dorsey as an out-ball. RSL are trying to crowd the central areas but they are leaving big spaces out wide.
Hector Herrera is drifting out wide to join Carrasquilla and Baird on the right, causing problems for RSL. Baird is covering much of the right flank, allowing Carrasquilla to move inside and combine.
Houston are not easing up despite that opening goal. Carrasquilla looks to ping a ball over the top of the Houston defence for Baird, but he over-hits the pass.
RSL have looked a little susceptible to attacks down the Houston right so far and that's exactly where the opener came from. Dorsey whipped in a teasing ball from the touchline and the visitors failed to clear the danger.
Gooooooooaaaal! Corey Baird
The hosts have the lead!
It was a bit of a scramble in the RSL penalty box but the Houston forward was there to prod the ball home.
Houston Dynamo are ahead!
That chance for Dorsey has got the Houston supporters back on their feet and has whipped up the atmosphere once more.
Chance! Houston
Griffin Dorsey makes a brilliant run from the halfway line, driving through the RSL defence. He reaches the penalty box and looks to pass the ball into the bottom corner but gets it all wrong and his effort bobbles wide of the post.
Glorious opening for Houston there!
Neat footwork from Zac Macmath as the RSL goalkeeper coolly truns away from Griffin Dorsey on the edge of the six-yard box. Ice in his veins.
Decent effort from Andros Gomez, who cuts inside from the right and fires a left-footed shot just wide of the Houston goal.
First attempt from the visitors.
Brilliant pass from Herrera looks to get Quinones sprinting clear on the right wing. Houston win a throw-in.
Corey Baird is absolutely furious after the referee blows for a foul on the Houston striker. His reaction, as much as the challenge itself, earns him a booking.
RSL have managed to take the sting out of the game after a quick start from Houston.
The hosts are still having plenty of the ball but RSL's midfield structure is making it hard for Houston to progress through the middle.
Hector Herrera is down after being clattered by Brayan Vera. The Mexican wants the RSL defender to be booked, but he gets away with a talking to.
Glimpse of an opening for Diego Luna as he sprints after an ambitious long ball out of the RSL defence.
He doesn't get the ball but RSL are more successful with the second line of the press and win a throw-in on the right flank.
Carrasquilla wins a free kick under pressure with some neat footwork.
The Panamanian struggled to exert any influence on Game Two out in Utah. Can he show his talents tonight?
After ten minutes there's a clear pattern starting to develop.
Houston are dominating possession, looking to prise apart a resolution RSL defence with sharp interplay in the middle. RSL are playing a little more directly, but have willing runners in Anderson and Luna.
Good running from Anderson Julio to latch onto a long ball played into the right channel. The RSL frontman looks to find a teammate in the middle but his pass is cut out.
Delicate chip over the RSL defence from Amine Bassi, searching for Artur running behind the backline.
The ball just misses the Houston midfielder, but it was a nice idea from Bassi.
Hector Herrera delivers a wide freekick from the right, it drifts into the box but evades the Houston attackers. RSL clear up field and Diego Luna is able to put his foot on the ball.
First bit of possession for RSL now.
Chance! Houston
First opening of the game goes to Dorsey. The Houston right back surged into the RSL box and lashed a shot at goal, but it flies hopelessly over the crossbar.
Nearly an opening for Houston as Bassi found himself in space on the right flank, looking to fire a low cross into the box. A RSL defender gets back to intercept the pass and clear the danger.
The hosts are enjoying the lion's share of the ball in the opening stages, shifting the ball from side to side.
And we're off!
Houston get us underway at Shell Energy Stadium for this all-important playoff decider...
Everything on the line in Houston
What an atmosphere we have for tonight's game! Two strong, evenly-matched teams.
Only one will make it through to face LAFC in the Conference semi-finals...
The players are out in Houston for this playoff decider. The hosts come into the game as favourites on home turf but RSL have talented forwards who can hurt Houston on the counter-attack.
Recap: Diego Luna wins it for RSL
Real Salt Lake went into Game Two knowing that they had to beat Houston Dynamo to keep their playoff journey alive. The game went to penalties and, after Houston opener Amine Bassi missed, RSL scored all five penalties to secure the victory.
The crucial fifth penalty was taken by Diego Luna, the 20-year-old who scored RSL's only goal in Game One.
Ahead of tonight's must-win clash, we caught up with Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark to get a sense of the mood in the camp. Clark has been crowned Conference champion three times in his MLS career but is yet to win the big one, MLS Cup.
He talks us through his journey to this point, the influence of Hector Herrera, and this team's MLS Cup credentials...
No Chicho Arango for Real Salt Lake
The visitors starting XI is in and there's bad news for fans of Real Salt Lake. DP striker Christian 'Chicho' Arango is only on the substitutes bench as he continues his recovery from injury.
He changed the game when he came on as a second half substitute in Utah, can he do the same for RSL tonight>
Here's how Houston Dynamo line up
No surprises for the hosts as Ben Olsen names an unchanged side from Game Two. That midfield trio of Artur, Herrera and Carrasquilla struggled to dominate out in Utah but they should have the quality to dictate the game on home turf.
RSL rocking the Beehive kit for crucial decider
Real Salt Lake will be wearing their Beehive kit for tonight's must-win game at Shell Energy Stadium. Pablo Mastroeni's side had to ride their luck in Game Two but showed real character to secure a win on penalties, scoring all five of their spot kicks.
If tonight's game is tied after 90 minutes again, we'll be going straight to a penalty shootout to decide which team advances to the semi-finals.
Calm before the storm at Shell Energy Stadium
In little over an hour, we'll be underway with all the action from this winners-takes-all playoff decider. Before this season Houston Dynamo had not made the post-season since 2018 and the home support will be looking to push their team over the line this evening.
We're expecting team news very shortly...
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Houston Dynamo and Real Salt lake are looking to secure one of the two remaining spots in the MLS Cup Conference Finals. With this best-of-three series tied, the winner of tonight's Game Three will progress through to the semi-final to face LAFC.
Here's the full list of teams already qualified...
HH in the house
Here he is! The Houston Dynamo captain arrives at Shell Energy Stadium for this crucial playoff Hector Herrera has been in incredible form this season, contributing 17 assists and five goals, and will be looking to leave his mark on tonight's game.
Hello and welcome to AS USA, where we'll be bringing you full live coverage of Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake.
Ben Olsen's side will be the favourites at Shell Energy Stadium, but a Chicho Arango-inspired RSL could cause Houston real problems.