Real Salt Lake forces Houston Dynamo to game three in a thrilling penalty shootout

Houston Dynamo lost the lead due to overconfidence

Real Salt Lake came from behind against the Houston Dynamo, forcing a third and final game for a ticket to the Semifinals of the Western Conference of the MLS Playoffs.

The second match of the series, held at America First Field remained even until the half-hour mark when Salt Lake defender Justen Glad tripped Dynamo's Franco Escobar, who had entered the box with a controlled ball at full speed and the referee called the penalty and sanctioned the play with a yellow card.

Amine Bassi converted the goal for Houston in the 28th minute, with a shot against the right post that goalkeeper MacMath deflected, but in the counter-attack, Bassi himself pushed the ball in.

RSL was one foot out of the Playoffs, but in the second half they got the equalizer with a different attitude on the field and, mainly, the entrance of Cristian 'Chicho' Arango to the field at minute 55'. Just two minutes later, Chicho had the equalizer, with a triangulation that left him in a shooting position, but goalkeeper Clark saved.

At 63', Chicho had the second, when he stole the ball at the start and connected a powerful right-footed shot that went very close to the post. Then came the equalizer, but with a superb free kick taken by Jefferson Savarino that went into the opposite corner.

Penalties in favor of RSL in the 11-spot shootout, Bassi missed for the Dynamo with a woeful shot down the middle and that was it for HH, as Utah converted all five of their shots. Meanwhile, the Dynamo lost the second game from the 11 penalty kicks. Although they will receive the final game on Saturday at home, for the pass to the semifinals in the West.