Soccer Tejas
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HOUSTON (Sept. 9, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night. Goals from attacker Guilherme and forward Mateusz Bogusz paced the Dynamo, who avoided defeat for the ninth time in 10 matches since returning from the World Cup break.
The result keeps Houston second in the Western Conference standings and improves their strong home record to 8-2-2 (W-L-D), while Guilherme has now contributed to 21 of Houston’s 32 league goals this season.
Guilherme managed the match’s first shot on target in the first minute, firing a curling shot from outside the box that required a two-handed save from goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
Bogusz ran into the box with the ball at his feet after a creative backheel from Guilherme, forcing a quick-reaction sliding block from Cabral in the 35th minute.
Bogusz took his chances from outside the box in the 44th minute, firing a ducking ball goalwards that forced Cabral to get low and bat the danger away.
Salt Lake finished the first half without a shot on goal, and with 0.00 expected goals (xG). They recorded their first early in the second frame, as Diego Luna was fouled near the top of the Dynamo box. Luna’s direct free kick split the wall and bounced to goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who easily handled the attempt.
The deadlock would break in the 57th minute thanks to the left foot of Guilherme. Forward Lawrence Ennali dribbled to the endline and cut back, finding a streaking Guilherme near the top of the box. The Brazilian attacker took two touches toward the center of the box before firing on the left for a 1-0 lead and his 13th goal of the season.
Houston would hold onto that lead for about 20 minutes, as Salt Lake would equalize in the 76th minute. Saba Lobjanidze, who had subbed on just six minutes prior, found himself on the end of a 2-on-1 counter, receiving the pass to send him around the defender and chipping over Bond for the first goal Houston had conceded in more than 200 minutes.
Houston nearly regained the lead in the 84th minute as Homegrown midfielder Matthew Arana found Guilherme near the top of the Salt Lake box. Guilherme sent a curling ball across to Bogusz, and the Polish forward fired first-time, but the shot was saved by Cabral. The rebound bounced to Bogusz, but his second attempt went over the bar.
However, Bogusz would not be denied for much longer. As he gave La Naranja the lead for good in the 87th minute with yet another strike from distance. A great diagonal ball from Guilherme found Bogusz just inside the right side of the box. Bogusz struck with force past Cabral for the 2-1 advantage that Houston would not relinquish.
Houston next travels to face the San Jose Earthquakes in another Western Conference clash on Saturday, Sept. 12, at PayPal Park, with kickoff set for 9:30 p.m. CT.
