Saturday’s scheduled match between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake was postponed due to a severe weather and flood warnings in the Houston metro area. The match took place on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. start time and Houston were able to capitalize on their home field advantage.
It was unexpected, but the rain on Saturday night made for a humid Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium that did in a very talented and stacked Real Salt Lake team. The Dynamo had their way throughout the game and arguably could’ve, many will say should’ve, walked away with a much larger margin.
Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake midfielder and team captain, cited humidity as a factor to RSL’s struggles. Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika.
“I think anytime playing down here with the humidity, and actually in any game, you get fatigued,” said Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman. “Of course it was tough circumstances. We all got ready to play yesterday, and then to have to try and get to bed, and then get up early. But it was there for us to get a result and we just didn’t take it.”
No nonsense from @HoustonDynamo. Calm finish from @GilesBarnesReal. #HOUvRSL https://t.co/VkyEjjPjqz
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 15, 2016
In the end, it was the Houston Dynamo who took the full three points.
A cool finish inside the box by Houston Dynamo forward Giles Barnes in the 65th minute was the only goal of the match and all the ‘Men in Orange’ needed to seal the three points at home.
Giles Barnes, Houston Dynamo midfielder and team captain, provided the only goal of the match to secure a home win against Real Salt Lake on May 15, 2016 at BBVA Compass Stadium. Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika.
“Everyone worked their socks off,” said Barnes. “Everyone dug in and that’s exactly what we have to do every single week. So as the ball’s gotten off, I just managed to get on the other end of the flick on and slide it into the net.”
The Dynamo will now look to string two wins together and pickup their first road win, both which would be firsts this season. Their next challenge is a road game at the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.
Real Salt Lake will travel to Kansas City to face Sporting KC next Saturday. The match will be the third of a five-game road stretch as the field at Rio Tinto Stadium is being replaced.
Lineups
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Sheanon Williams, David Horst, Agus Garcia, DaMarcus Beasley; Andrew Wenger (Leonel Miranda 67), Alex Lima, Ricardo Clark, Giles Barnes © (Will Bruin 90+3); Cristian Maidana; Erick Torres (Boniek Garcia 77)
Unused substitutes: Calle Brown, David Rocha, Collen Warner, Jalil Anibaba
Real Salt Lake: Jeff Attinella; Tony Beltran, Jámison Olave, Justen Glad, Chris Wingert (Jordan Allen 75); John Stertzer (Luke Mulholland 74), Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman ©; Juan Manuel Martínez (Olmes García 82), Yura Movsisyan, Joao Plata
Substitutes Not Used: Nick Rimando, Devon Sandoval, Phanuel Kavita, Sunny
Victor Araiza is a beat writer covering the Houston Dynamo for Prost Amerika.
Follow @victoraraiza Tweet to @victoraraiza
