SANDY, Utah (May 13, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC fell 3-0 on the road to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night despite creating several dangerous first half chances and doubling the home team’s shots on target for the match.
Houston has still managed to win six of their previous eight matches in all competitions and will look to bounce back when they return home to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 16, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium on what will be Soccer Celebration Night. This will be Houston’s last home match before the FIFA World Cup 2026™ break, and fans can take advantage of the Club and Country offer that includes a ticket to the match and a nation/Dynamo-themed scarf (15 options).
Notably, tonight’s match saw forward Nick Markanich make his first 2026 MLS regular season start for the Dynamo. Houston signed the American and former USL Championship Player of the Year on loan from Club Deportivo Castellón in January.
The first chance of the match came for the men in orange, as midfielder Ondřej Lingr’s high press led to a turnover in the 14th minute. Lingr strode forward with possession and fired from just outside the box, but the shot was claimed by Salt Lake keeper Rafael Cabral.
Three minutes later, Markanich found himself through on goal on the break after a great through ball from Lingr. Markanich’s first and only touch, as he was going down in the box was on-frame but clanged off the post and out for a Salt Lake goal kick.
A series of strong opportunities nearly found the back of the net for the Dynamo in the 39th minute, as Lingr and Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn each fired from just outside the box – the second a very similar strike to McGlynn’s first of two goals in Houston’s 4-1 road victory over LAFC on Sunday night. Cabral went high to deflect both shots out, and the score remained level.
Real Salt Lake struck first when a 49th-minute long throw in from DeAndre Yedlin found the head of defender Franco Negri, who made his 50th MLS appearance tonight, and deflected off an unlucky midfielder Duane Holmes to find the back of the net just inside the far post.
Salt Lake doubled its lead in the 57th minute when Yedlin found Zavier Gozo in the middle of the penalty box, who poked the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
Salt Lake added a third goal in the 64th minute when Stijn Spierings played a through ball to Gozo, who slotted the ball inside the far post for his second goal of the match.
Houston had a chance in the 70th minute when midfielder Héctor Herrera played a long ball to attacker Guilherme on the break, who acrobatically fired a ball towards goal on the volley, but it carried just wide of the right post.
On Wednesday, Major League Soccer kicked off the All-Star voting process for the 2026 MLS All-Star Gamein Charlotte, N.C., which includes participation by fans, players and media. Fan voting is now open and closes at 11:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 21. Houston Dynamo FC fans can vote HERE, and every fan has the unique opportunity to share their picks on social media.
The best talent in North America will take center stage in the Queen City, as the 2026 MLS All-Star Game will feature the MLS All-Stars taking on a team of All-Stars from Mexico’s top soccer league, LIGA MX, on Wednesday, July 29, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium. The 2026 MLS All-Star game will be broadcast live on MLS on Apple TV in English
