Real Salt Lake's strong effort falls short in loss to Dynamo

HOUSTON — Real Salt Lake simply made things too tough on itself.

Despite a valiant effort against the Western Conference front-runners Saturday night, RSL never completely overcame an early two-goal deficit and another Jamison Olave red card in dropping a heart-breaker to the Houston Dynamo 3-2.

Considering all the circumstances, it was tough for anyone in the RSL locker room to feel too discouraged afterward.

"I was extremely proud of my guys to show that kind of fight in those kind of circumstances tonight," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "I think there's not a whole lot to feel bad about. I think we have to feel very, very good about that game and go and match it next week and the next three matches after that and we'll be fine."

Despite the many positives of battling back and tying the game at 2-2 after falling behind 2-0 in the opening five minutes, late September is no time for moral victories. The loss decreases the likelihood of a repeat Real Salt Lake playoff appearance unless it can win three of its final four matches.

None of that will be possible if RSL duplicates its opening five minutes at Robertson Stadium.

Houston struck first just 68 seconds into the match as Brian Ching tapped in a Brad Davis free kick. Nat Borchers was defending on the play and seemed to be in good position to clear the ball, but he didn't make a play on the bouncing ball. The indecision enabled Ching to reach around with his left foot and tap it past keeper Nick Rimando.

It was the second time this year RSL allowed a goal in the opening two minutes, the other coming in a 1-0 loss at New York.

Unfortunately for Salt Lake, things went from bad to worse quickly. In the fifth minute Geoff Cameron used his knee to knock in a Davis corner kick putting the Dynamo in front 2-0. Before the corner RSL's players pleaded with the referee that it should've been a throw-in instead but to no avail.

It was just the sixth time in MLS history a team scored twice in the opening five minutes, and the first in Real Salt Lake history.

"Preaching all week to the guys about fortune favoring the bold, and coming out and being aggressive and really taking it to Houston but when you allow a goal on a free kick in minute two it changes things right away for you," said Kreis.

The visitors settled down after the horrific start and started to create some chances.