Previewing Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake with Wasatch Soccer Sentinel
(image via Real Salt Lake/Twitter)
The Houston Dynamo return from a bye week to welcome Real Salt Lake to Shell Energy Stadium. We talked to our friend Matt Montgomery from Wasatch Soccer Sentinel to get some insight on RSL ahead of Saturday night’s match.
Like the Dynamo, RSL have scored just 10 goals this season but have a high amount of shots on target. What has been going on with the attack and how might they improve on their goal scoring numbers?
Oh, where to start? I think what we're seeing is a team that's struggling to put together high-quality chances. We've seen a lot of good (but rarely great) shots from distance, and we've seen plenty of shots taken, but they're rarely from positions that would naturally result in a Real Salt Lake goal. It's not just a matter of finishing ability (which I've only just realized is a bigger conversation in the world of soccer) but of chance quality. After all, RSL leads the league in shots on target per 90 minutes — but they're smack-dab in the middle on expected goals.
On the other side, RSL have allowed 17 goals which is the most in the Western Conference. What is the reason the defense has been unable to keep opponents from scoring?
Simply put, the midfield isn't organized, and it likely isn't good enough. Pablo Ruiz and whoever his partner is that week (Jasper Löffelsend and Braian Ojeda under usual conditions) are not quite good enough for the system they're being asked to play, which consists of a two-man midfield with two central forwards ahead of them. It's a system that extracts as much value as possible from its central midfielders, and I think we're seeing the consequence of that. As a consequence, chance creation also withers under the weight of a hefty defensive responsibility that's not being met.
Pablo Ruiz was sent off against Seattle and will miss this weekend's match. How much of an impact will that have on RSL and how will they look to replace him?
It's a solid question. I don't know if I have a solid answer. I guess the most likely midfield pairing is Scott Caldwell and Braian Ojeda, who might have played together once or twice. Jasper Löffelsend would typically be up ahead of Caldwell, but I'm not sure he'll be recovered from an injury sustained late last week.
Andres Gomez seems to have found his footing in MLS. What should Dynamo fans expect to see from the exciting young Colombian?
Expect lots of exciting runs down RSL's right side, which should help create some space on that half of the field. He will typically cut in — he's sort of a mirror of Jefferson Savarino in that way — and look to fire off a shot from distance. He can be quite good at those, too. He's been a joy to watch, which is nice, given the season has been a little — well — lacking.
RSL is unbeaten in its last 10 matches against the Dynamo with the last Houston win coming in May of 2017. Is this just a case of having a team's number or why do you think RSL has been able to put together such a streak?
Huh! I wouldn't have thought that. I don't know if I have a reason, honestly. It's just one of those funny MLS things that happens sometimes. We used to be so completely dire in Texas, and that changing didn't come on the back of anything meaningful. The script just sort of flipped. If I had to wager a total guess, maybe Salt Lake having increasingly hot summers has better prepared the team for matches in Texas. There's got to be an upside to climate change, right? (I mean, excepting the fact that RSL couldn't train outside regularly until April this year. That wasn't great.)
How is the health of the roster and do you expect anyone to be unavailable Saturday?
I'm not aware of any new major injuries, but a U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday against Portland could lead to some thinking about rotation options.
Predicted lineup and prediction for the match?
I'm thankfully not in the business of scoreline predictions, but it looks like the betting odds are very much in favor of Houston in this one. As for a lineup:
MacMath
Oviedo, Glad, Silva, Vera
Ojeda, Caldwell
Gomez, Rubin, Musovski, Savarino
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We want to thank Matt for his time and wish our friends in Salt Lake City the best of luck tomorrow.
