Real Salt Lake continues their road trip as they head to Houston to face the Dynamo on Saturday, here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. RSL is coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss at LAFC on Wednesday night which saw starters Joao Plata and Damir Kreilach benched as well as a Nick Rimando substitution at halftime. Andrew Putna’s debut in LA made him the 10th player to make their MLS debut for Real Salt Lake this season.
With the loss, Real Salt Lake remains in 6th place in the west at 10-10-5 with 35 points. RSL’s road record dropped to 1-9-2, and five of their remaining nine matches, including Houston, are away.
2. Similar to last time these two teams faced off, Real Salt Lake is ending a stretch of three matches in eight days, this time on the road. RSL took all three points against Houston at Rio Tinto Stadium on May 30 and now it’s time to face the sliding Dynamo in Texas. The Claret & Cobalt have historically struggled when visiting both Texas teams and has a record of 2-10-1 at Houston. Their 2017 visit to Texas saw back-to-back losses against Houston (5-1) and Dallas (6-2).
ESPN700’s Real Salt Lake color analyst Jay Nolly joined The Bill Riley Show to preview the match in Houston:
With Shawn Barry getting the start on Wednesday, Ricky Lopez-Espin getting back to training, and Nick Rimando’s substitution, the injury report has some updates:
OUT: Tony Beltran (knee 10/15/17), Jordan Allen (knee 6/16/17), Demar Phillips (ankle 4/7/18), Alex Horwath (achilles 4/18/18), Luke Mulholland (back 5/2/18), David Horst (achilles 6/26/18), Connor Sparrow (knee 7/2/18), Luis Silva (groin 7/18).
QUESTIONABLE: Ricky Lopez-Espin (knee 6/13/18), Nick Rimando (undisclosed 8/15/18).
3. Houston is winless in their last six matches, their last win coming on July 7th against Minnesota. The Dynamo sit in 10th place in the west, five places below their position last time they faced RSL, with a record of 7-10-6 and 27 points. Since their loss at Rio Tinto Stadium at the end of May, Houston has gone 2-6-3 overall and 2-2-2 at home. Mauro Manotas leads Houston with 11 goals, Alberth Ellis has 9 goals and 8 assists, Romell Quioto has 4 goals and 11 assists, Tomás Martínez has 4 goals and 5 assists, and Philippe Senderos has 4 goals and 1 assist.
Houston is 6-4-2 at BBVA Compass Stadium this season.
OUT: A.J. DeLaGarza (ACL), Juan David Cabezas (left quad), Mac Steeves (left hip).
Our coverage of Real Salt Lake at Houston Dynamo begins on Saturday, August 18th at 6 P.M. with Lauren Mason Beck and JP Chunga, kick-off at 7 P.M. with Spencer Warne and Jay Nolly.
