Dynamo’s busy July kicks off with away contest with RSL: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo continue a busy week, and begin a busy July, with an away match against Real Salt Lake tonight. The Dynamo picked up three points Saturday with a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC at home. RSL is much more rested, having not played last weekend and not taken the pitch since a 1-0 home loss to LA Galaxy on June 22.
When: Wednesday, July 3 | 8:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: America First Field; Sandy, UT
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Playoff Rematch
The Dynamo and Real Salt Lake met in a best-of-three series in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs that was a great battle. The Dynamo won at home 2-1 in the first game, then lost in PKs at RSL after a 1-1 draw, and won the series with a PK win after another 1-1 draw. Now these two teams will meet for the first time since that series, with both back in contention for another playoff appearance. RSL hasn’t beaten the Dynamo in regulation since May of 2022. That is a streak of six unbeaten against Salt Lake for Houston. A midweek match, in the altitude of Utah, against a good RSL side, will test this Dynamo team in a way they have yet to be tested this season.
Keeping it Clean
The Dynamo’s six match unbeaten run has been impressive but Saturday’s win was their first clean sheet in that streak. Houston got back to their old school ways of suffocating teams on defense and grinding out a result after an early goal. Goalkeeper Steve Clark made one big save to preserve the shut out, something he has grown accustomed to doing in his career, especially with the Dynamo. Now the Dynamo will look across the field to the MLS Golden Boot leader in Cristian Arango and a Real Salt Lake side that has scored 40 goals in 20 MLS games. Strength vs strength should set up a compelling battle in the Rocky Mountains tonight.
Viva Colombia
While Colombia marches on at Copa America, two players from the country are helping Real Salt Lake march to new heights. The aforementioned Arango leads all of Major League Soccer with 16 goals this season. He’s also added five assists to his tally in his 20 games played. Fellow Colombian Carlos Gomez is also in double-digits with 10 goals this season. The 21-year-old- has six assists as well and he and Arango make for one of the most dynamic duos in all of MLS. It seems week-in and week-out the Dynamo come across teams with fantastic attacking players but, as head coach Ben Olsen noted recently, that’s what the league is now. Teams in this league have loaded up on wingers and strikers who can hurt you. Houston is up for a battle with another one of those teams tonight.
Houston Dynamo – Out: Adalberto Carrasquilla (international duty), Nelson Quinones (knee), Daniel Steres (lower leg), Jefferson Valverde (hip); Questionable: McKinze Gaines (lower body)
Real Salt Lake – Out: Kevin Bonilla (knee), Erik Holt (hamstring), Pablo Ruiz (knee), Marcelo Silva (hamstring), Brayan Vera (not due to injury); Questionable: Maikel Chang (ankle), Justen Glad (ankle)
Predicted Lineup
