Real Salt Lake’s MLS winless stretch reaches 10 with 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo
Sep 9, 2026, 9:32 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — Football is a game of moments, to borrow the words of Real Salt Lake manager Pablo Mastroeni.
Facing an unavailable list as long as the Texas panhandle, RSL lost two of the most important moments Wednesday night in Houston.
Guilherme Augusto had a goal and an assist, and Mateusz Bogusz scored the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute as Houston Dynamo FC held off Real Salt Lake, 2-1 at Shell Energy Stadium.
Saba Lobjanidze scored in the 76th minute for Salt Lake (8-10-5, 29 points), which extended its winless run to 10 consecutive matches in MLS play dating back to May 16 and a road losing skid that dates back 11 fixtures to March 7 in Atlanta.
But Houston out-shot the visitors 12-9 including a 6-4 edge in shots on goal to snap the Dynamo’s own three-match winless skid and improve to 13-7-4 for 43 points and second place in the western conference.
Less than four full days removed from an encouraging 2-2 home draw with LAFC, Salt Lake was forced into another shorthanded situation with 13 players on the unavailable list.
In addition to the medium- to long-term injuries previously suffered by Ariath Piol (Achilles), Emeka Eneli (knee), Justen Glad (adductor) and Zach Booth (hamstring), the trio was joined by the following absences before play kicked off:
- Taylor Booth (fitness)
- Luc de Fougerolles (visa)
- Griffin Dillon (foot)
- Morgan Guilavogui (knee)
- Sam Junqua (concussion)
- Dominik Marczuk (excused absence)
- Sergi Solans (illness)
- Stijn Spierings (ankle)
- Dušan Žagar (visa)
“I think we created a lot of great opportunities,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni told reporters after the game. “Coming in with a bunch of players out really tested our resolve …. On another night, I think we get a point, maybe take three if we’re clinical in front of goal. But I’m really proud of the way the guys conducted themselves in a professional manner, and probably deserved more of this game.”
The mounting injuries and other absences led to five personnel changes from the weekend, including first-time starts for newly signed striker Jason Shokalook and midfielder Colin Guske, the Orlando City SC academy alum who was in Salt Lake on loan.
Starting center back Lukas Engel only made it to halftime before he was replaced by Philip Quinton, as well. By then, the Dynamo had out-shot RSL 6-2 in the first 45 minutes including the only three shots on goal.
“We’ve got the injury bug at the moment,” Mastroeni said. “But hopefully he bounces back.”
Guilherme opened the scoring just over 10 minutes into the half for Houston, ripping a left-footed shot inside the far post in the 57th minute to give the hosts the advantage with his 13th goal of the season.
But RSL’s second-half subs paid off almost immediately.
Less than six minutes after Lobjanidze came on in the second half, the Georgian international connected with fellow sub Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos to equalize on a fast-moving counter attack in the 76th minute.
It’s the second-straight match with a goal for Lobjanidze, who was RSL’s first transfer window addition acquired from Atlanta United under favorable terms at the opening of the MLS summer transfer window in July.
Rodrigues, the Brazilian-born forward who grew up in Houston and initially played for the Dynamo academy before RSL selected him in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft after a collegiate career at Marshall, slipped a through-ball to a streak Lobjanidze and the speed winger was off to the races to settle the score into the final minutes of the second half.
But Guilherme wasn’t done, finding Mateusz Bogusz for the go-ahead goal with two minutes left in regulation to lift the Dynamo past Salt Lake with his first goal since scoring a brace July 25 against Austin FC.
Another debut
In addition to second-half subs Rodrigues, Lobjanidze and Alex Katranis, Owen Anderson also substituted in and made his first-team debut. The 19-year-old Real Monarchs midfielder and RSL homegrown from California is the 13th debutant this season for Salt Lake, and the 242nd player all-time to represent the club.
Next up for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake returns home Saturday to host New York City FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV.
