The game in 100 words (or less): Real Salt Lake are losers of three of their last four games following a 1-0 loss away to the bottom-of-the-Western-Conference Houston Dynamo. Having themselves sat second place in the West three short weeks ago, Jeff Cassar’s RSL has slumped to sixth in the West after failing to put a single shot on target over the course of 90 minutes on Sunday. Houston held the attacking trio of Yura Movsysian, Joao Plata and Juan Manuel “Burrito” Martinez (8 goals, 6 assists combined coming into Sunday) to a combined total of two shots on the afternoon. Giles Barnes bagged his fourth goal of the season, the game’s only one, taking advantage of a pair of failed clearances midway through the second half and beating goalkeeper Jeff Attinella inside the far post. With another victory next week, and a bit of help elsewhere, Houston can climb out of the Western cellar.
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Three moments that mattered
40′ — Torres heads a clear-cut chance over the bar — DaMarcus Beasley served up a delightful cross for Erick “Cubo” Torres, who’s still looking for his first Dynamo goal nearly 10 months later, and the Mexican striker bounced his finish over the bar.
65′ — Movsysian gets in one-on-one but chips over — Movsysian’s best chance all afternoon came moments before Houston scored to make it 1-0. In behind the defense, the big Armenian hurried his finish with Joe Willis rushing off his line and lifted the ball over the crossbar.
66′ — Barnes gets behind, finishes past Attinella — RSL failed to deal with a long, bouncing ball inside their defensive half. Barnes reacted quickest, and it was 1-0 just like that.
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Man of the match: Giles Barnes
Goalscorers: Barnes (66′)