Illustration: Victor Araiza
Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo were two teams in uncharted waters in 2015, for different reasons, as both were clawing to pick up a playoff spot at the end of the season. They both failed to reach the playoffs as the season ran out on them.
Real Salt Lake, complicated throughout 2015 with injuries, began 2016 with a clean bill of health and spared no time starting the season on the right foot. After going undefeated in their first 6 games (4-0-2), RSL is now looking get back on track after their first setback of the season, a 5-2 loss at the Los Angeles Galaxy in week 8.
The Houston Dynamo had their own problems with the LA Galaxy, losing 4-1 at home two weeks ago on national television. It called attention to the Men in Orange that maybe they weren’t as explosive as everyone thought (Houston scored an MLS-record 11 goals in the first three games of the season).
Saturday’s match at Rio Tinto Stadium will be the first of three matches this year between the two sides and, in the long run, could have playoff implications in the supercompetitive Western Conference.
Both sides know from last season the struggle of working against the calendar and would like to assure their place inside the bubble as soon as possible. Real Salt Lake have room to breathe but they will not want to dispel the advantage of their only home game within next six weeks, the next five matches are on the road.
For the Houston Dynamo, it’s time for them to get right as well.
The LA game is symbolic in the Dynamo season because, in the post-game press conference, Head Coach Owen Coyle called out his players and promised there would be lineup changes. Those changes were evident in the game last week against the Columbus Crew but ultimately the end result was a familiar one: another L in the results column.
Winless in their last 5 games, and having won only one game this season, Owen Coyle and his players are now faced with as much of a “must-win” as a match can get in late April. Will it be more of the same lackluster offense and poor defending late in games? Or will Coyle have his squad back on track to the beautiful attacking style he promised fans in preseason?
Who will prevail? We will find out Saturday night when Javier Morales, Juan Manuel Martinez and Real Salt lake host Giles Barnes, Ricardo Clark and the Houston Dynamo. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. MT (8:30 p.m. CT). Other game notes and broadcast info are enclosed for your convenience.
MLS new league-wide bag policy in place
REMINDER: elevated #RioT security protocols in place Sat for #RSL v HOU and all games going fwd, so #ArriveEARLY pic.twitter.com/RJIk26eflc
— Real Salt Lake (@RealSaltLake) April 28, 2016
If you’re heading to the game in Sandy on Saturday it’s important to mention that Major League Soccer updated its security standards across all 20 stadiums. The biggest change is the bag policy. No bags larger than 14” x 6” x 14” will be permitted at Rio Tinto Stadium. For more information here are some links of help:
Real Salt Lake (4-1-2 overall, 14 pts. 4th Western)
2016 Home Record: 3-0-0
Jeff Cassar vs. Dynamo: W3-L0-T0 (1-0-0 at Home)
INJURY REPORT:
OUT:
D Phanuel Kavita (MCL injury)
M Omar Holness (separated shoulder)
D Boyd Okwuonu (concussion)
F Emery Welshman (left hip flexor/quad strain)
QUESTIONABLE:
F Joao Plata (left quad injury)
PROBABLE:
M Stephen Sunday (lower leg injury)
F Juan Manuel Martinez (thigh injury)
M Javier Morales (broken ribs)
F Olmes Garcia (right ankle injury)
Notes of interest:
- The five goals allowed by RSL tied the third-most in club history, the sixth time since the club’s inception it has allowed five or more goals in a game.
- Goalkeeper Nick Rimando became the second player in MLS history to reach the 400-game mark in league play. The all-time MLS record is held by Kevin Hartman, who made 416 league appearances for his career.
- Jamison Olave made his return to the starting XI, making his first start since March 19, playing the full 90 minutes in central defense.
Houston Dynamo (1-4-2 overall, 5 pts. 10th Western)
2016 Road Record: 0-3-0
Owen Coyle vs. RSL: W0-L2-T0 (0-1-0 Away)
INJURY REPORT:
PROBABLE:
MF Rob Lovejoy (L Hamstring Strain)
Notes of interest:
- Will Bruin’s next goal would be his 50th during the MLS regular-season.
- Giles Barnes made his 100th career MLS regular-season start at Columbus, tying him with Geoff Cameron and Andre Hainault for 11th on the club list. A start against RSL would see Barnes pass up the two ex-Dynamo defenders and tie Jermaine Taylor for 10th on the club list.
- Tyler Deric is unable to play this game because he obtained a red card against Columbus.
- Deric along with Mauro Manotas, Sebastien Ibeagha and Zach Steinberger will play for RGVFC, the Dynamo’s USL hybrid affiliate, in their home opener against LA Galaxy II on Saturday night. RGV visited Rio Tinto Stadium last week and defeated Real Monarchs, RSL’s USL club, 1-0.
Where to watch/listen to #RSLvHOU:
| Real Salt Lake | Houston Dynamo | |
| TV (English): |
KMYU (2.2 air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD) |
|
| Radio (English): |
ESPN 700 AM |
CBS Sports Radio 650 AM (KIKK) 95.7-3 FM (simulcast) www.houston.cbslocal.com (online stream) Radio.com app (Mobile) |
| Radio (Spanish): |
La Gran D 102.3 FM / 1600 AM |
Amor Celestial 1010 AM (KLAT) |
| Online stream available in USA and Canada (except Salt Lake City and Houston areas): MLS Live
International: Abu Dhabi Sports, BeIN Sports Australia, Eurosport |
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Links of interest
Here some content from other sites you may want to look at before the game. Remember that the hashtag for this game is #RSLvHOU
Articles:
- Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo (RSL.com)
- News Stand: April 29, 2016 (RSL.com)
- Real Salt Lake Readies for a Versatile Dynamo Squad (RSL.com)
- Aaron Maund now an indispensable starter along RSL back line (Salt Lake Tribune)
- RSL waives midfielder Fito Ovalle (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Real Salt Lake seeking quick bounce back against Houston (Deseret News)
- No home games for 7 weeks? RSL explains why a new field is necessary (Deseret News)
- Behind enemy lines: Scouting Houston Dynamo (RSL Soapbox/SB Nation)
- Match Preview: #RSLvHOU (Houston Dynamo.com)
- Watch #RSLvHOU on your TV (HoustonDynamo.com)
- Scouting Real Salt Lake (HoustonDynamo.com)
- Alex Lima suspended for RSL match by MLS Disciplinary Committee (HoustonDynamo.com)
- Mansally set to feel at “home” at Real Salt Lake on Saturday (HoustonDynamo.com)
- Real Salt Lake pierde primer partido de 2016 antes de enfrentarse a Houston Dynamo (HoustonDynamo.com)
- Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Preview: New Look Dynamo Face Strong Foes (Dynamo Theory/SB Nation)
Videos:
Victor Araiza is a beat writer covering the Houston Dynamo for Prost Amerika.
Follow @victoraraiza Tweet to @victoraraiza
Real Salt Lake
