Luna Scores Against Houston

Luna's Header Seals Victory for Real Salt Lake

Diego Luna broke his scoring drought for the 2025 MLS season on Saturday night, finding the back of the net with a perfectly timed header to help Real Salt Lake secure a 2-1 road victory over the Houston Dynamo.

Late in the first half, with the score knotted at 1-1 and both teams pushing for an advantage before the break, Luna demonstrated the intensity and opportunism that recently earned him a call-up to Mauricio Pochettino's U.S. Men's National Team.

The decisive moment came during first-half stoppage time when Dominik Marczuk fired a rocket from the right side of the box. Luna, showcasing his attacking instincts, darted in front of the shot and redirected the ball with a header into the right side of the net. The Houston goalkeeper, already committed to the far left where Marczuk's original shot was heading, had no chance to adjust.

The goal wouldn't have been possible without Luna's excellent footwork just seconds earlier, as he displayed remarkable balance and ball control to keep possession in bounds during the build-up to the scoring opportunity.

This match-winning contribution is perfect for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder who was recently named to Pochettino's 23-man USMNT squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League finals. Luna's inclusion in the national team roster turned heads, with Pochettino
praising him as "a player that can provide different things during the game."

Luna's goal proved decisive, and Real Salt Lake earned its first win of the season against the Houston Dynamo, a team that has historically dominated its matchups. The victory improved RSL's record to 2-2-0, while Houston fell to 0-3-1.

The match opened with Diogo Gonçalves scoring just 43 seconds in, before Houston's Ezequiel Ponce equalized in the 16th minute. Luna's header ultimately made the difference in a hard-fought contest where Houston outshot RSL 16-10, though the visitors were more efficient with five shots on target to Houston's two.