Real Salt Lake 2, Houston Dynamo 1 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Real Salt Lake made the final regular-season home game of Nick Rimando’s legendary career a memorable one. Now, they’re in a position to get him one more in the playoffs.

On Sunday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL clinched a playoff spot thanks to a 75th-minute winner from Jefferson Savarino that propelled the home side to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

Corey Baird also scored for Real Salt Lake, who head into Decision Day presented by AT&T with a shot at a top four seed in the Western Conference.

It was a dream start for RSL with Baird picking off the ball at midfield, sprinting alone to the edge edge of the box, and firing one in only 34 seconds into the contest.

Tomas Martinez found the equalizer in the 32nd minute, pouncing on a rebound that Rimando gave up before slotting a tough-angle shot past the veteran goalkeeper.

Thomas McNamara, meanwhile, was unlucky not to score in the first half for the Dynamo, who were already eliminated from playoff contention. The Houston midfielder had one goal disallowed for offside after Video Review and another that bounced off the post before being saved off the line by RSL defender Aaron Herrera in dramatic fashion.

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Goals

• 1' — RSL — Corey Baird | WATCH
• 32' — HOU — Tomas Martinez | WATCH
• 75' — RSL — Jefferson Savarino | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Based on other results, Real Salt Lake would have secured a postseason spot even with a draw or loss. But snapping a three-game winless streak was important for RSL as they try to earn a good seed and build momentum heading into the playoffs. Without much to play for, the Dynamo fought valiantly heading into the final home game for another retiring legend, DaMarcus Beasley. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: The Dynamo might not have thought they were in danger of giving up a goal when
Kyle Beckerman
played a ball to
Sebastián Saucedo
, who passed it over to Savarino. But with sublime skill, the Venezuelan striker turned a seemingly benign buildup into the game’s decisive moment.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Let’s stick with Savarino, who picked a good time to score his eighth goal of the season.

Next Up

• RSL: Sunday, October 6 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US; TSN1 in Canada)
• HOU: Sunday, October 6 vs. LA Galaxy (4 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in the US and on DAZN in Canada)