Houston Dynamo return home seeking first win
(image via Ricky Vega)
The Houston Dynamo are back at Shell Energy Stadium looking for their first win of 2025 as they host Real Salt Lake. Houston is coming off its first points of the season after a 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew last weekend. Real Salt Lake is struggling early this season, including a 3-1 home loss to expansion side San Diego FC in their last match.
When: Saturday, March 15 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)
Budding Rivalry
Tonight’s match will be the 10 meeting between the Dynamo and RSL since the start of the 2023 season. They have met in the regular season, playoffs, Leagues Cup, and US Open Cup. Houston has won the last two matches, both at home, including a 4-1 win last September. RSL has not won at Shell Energy Stadium since 2018. Both teams are led by former MLS players turned head coaches in Ben Olsen and Pablo Mastroeni. This game should be another chapter in what is turning into a good rivalry between the two teams.
Ignite the Offense
Last week’s scoreless draw with Columbus showed that the Dynamo defense is beginning to come together. Now they’ll look to get the offense going. Houston has scored just twice in their first three games of the season. DP striker Ezequiel Ponce has yet to open his account for the season and the Dynamo will want him to start firing on all cylinders soon. If Ponce can get hot and start bagging goals, this Dynamo team can begin to climb the table. If he can’t, it could be a very tough uphill battle.
Slumping Salt Lake
Like the Dynamo, Real Salt Lake has started 2025 in struggling form. RSL has just one win this season, against a rotated Seattle Sounders, and two losses. They lost at home to San Diego and got crushed 4-0 by the San Jose Earthquakes on opening day. RSL also went out of the Concacaf Champions Cup last month, drawing 0-0 away and then losing 2-1 at home to Costa Rican side Club Sport Herediano. Talisman Chicho Arango is gone and DP winger Diogo Goncalves has struggled to find his feet in MLS. Diego Luna is a superstar but will he be enough to right the RSL ship?
Houston Dynamo – Out: Lawrence Ennali (knee), Nelson Quinones (knee); Questionable: Erik Sviatchenko (lower body)
Real Salt Lake – Out: Matthew Bell (hamstring), Zac MacMath (shoulder)
Predicted Lineup
