Dynamo, Real Salt Lake settle for scoreless draw
The Houston Dynamo FC and visiting Real Salt Lake split the points with a scoreless draw on Sunday in the season opener for both teams.
Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark and RSL keeper Zac MacMath had two saves each, with Clark -- the Dynamo's big free agent signee from Portland -- earning his 45th career shutout and MacMath producing his 42nd.
The Dynamo dominated the match statistics, earning advantages in possession percentage (61.4 percent to 39.6 percent), shots (10-8), total passes (575-356), passing accuracy (84.9 percent to 78.7 percent) and corner kicks (9-8).
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Real Salt Lake had the only shot on target in the first half, a header by Marcelo Silva off a set piece pass by Pablo Ruiz in the 27th minute that was gobbled up by Clark.
Clark made a sterling save in the 72nd minute when he came just far enough off his line to lunge and stop Maikel Chang's shot. Nine minutes later, Justen Glad's header from the center of the box was blocked.
Houston came the closest to scoring as Darwin Quintero clanged a left-footed shot off the crossbar behind MacMath in the 82nd minute.
Real Salt Lake has six wins and seven draws in its past 13 season-opening matches; RSL's last season-opening defeat came against Seattle in 2009. Real Salt Lake has not lost to Houston in nine straight matches (four wins, five draws) dating back to May 2017.
Houston, which finished last in the Western Conference in 2021, had just 36 goals in that campaign, tied for second fewest in the league. The Dynamo had no answer for those scoring woes in their season opener but held on for the point at home.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ramy Touchan
MLS Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | +6 | 18 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | +8 | 16 |
| Real Salt Lake | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +7 | 15 |
| Colorado Rapids | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | +2 | 15 |
| Minnesota United FC | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 14 |
| Houston Dynamo FC | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +1 | 13 |
| LAFC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | +1 | 12 |
| Austin FC | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 12 |
| St. Louis CITY SC | 9 | 2 | 6 | 1 | +1 | 12 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | +1 | 11 |
| Portland Timbers | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| FC Dallas | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -5 | 5 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -11 | 3 |
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