Albert Rusnak's brace helps Real Salt Lake stun the Houston Dynamo

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Albert Rusnak scored twice in second-half stoppage time, including a penalty kick in the 10th minute, to give Real Salt Lake a stunning 2-1 victory over host Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday to send the Dynamo to their fifth straight defeat.

Real Salt Lake improved to 2-9-2 on the road, although it looked dire for most of the match after Oscar Boniek Garcia's deflected goal in the 36th minute gave Houston a 1-0 lead.

Rusnak scored in the 93rd minute on a 20-yard strike off the right post to tie the score before Sebastian Saucedo drew a foul from Houston defender DaMarcus Beasley on the right side of the box. Beasley stuck out his right knee and made contact with the forward.

Rusnak converted his third PK in four tries this season with a shot down the middle past Joe Willis for his seventh goal.

Albert Rusnak
Albert Rusnak
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Houston took the 1-0 lead due to a fortuitous bounce after Romell Quioto's free kick was blocked by the wall. The ball went to Garcia for a 22-yard volley. His shot deflected off RSL defender Nick Besler past goalkeeper Andrew Putna.

Putna, who plays for RSL's lower division team, the Real Monarchs of the United Soccer League, made his first Major League Soccer start and second appearance, having replaced Nick Rimando (hamstring) at halftime of a 2-0 defeat at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday.

Putna made two saves and kept RSL in the match with stops on Quioto in the 67th and Mauro Manotas five minutes later. Putna, 23, is a 2017 draft pick from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

The Dynamo host FC Dallas on Thursday. Real Salt Lake plays Aug. 25 at Colorado.