by Elmer Mejia
Real Salt Lake is coming off a win over Austin FC and will now face another Texas team this Wednesday night. Their next opponent will be the two-time MLS Champions in the Houston Dynamo. These two teams have played each other 33 times with Salt Lake winning 11 and losing 12 (with nine draws as well). Their previous two encounters this season have ended in draws. Here’s a quick look of what to expect from this match.
Keep the Winning Streak Going
Salt Lake broke a two game losing streak with the win over Austin FC. They will try to earn their second straight win against a Texas team when they face the Dynamo. RSL moved up the table with their win this past weekend and are now in sixth place. They have 24 points and are just three behind fifth place Minnesota United. A win will definitely help their playoff hopes alive.
The Portland Timbers, LAFC, and San Jose Earthquakes are the closest teams to Salt Lake as they only are all only one point behind. However, the Timbers and LAFC face two tough opponents this week. The Timbers will play away against the first place team in the Western Conference innSporting KC, while San Jose will play away against the third place LA Galaxy. Minnesota could also drop points this weekend when they host Sporting KC this Saturday afternoon.
Team News
Jeizon Ramirez has recovered from his injury and is listed as available in the lineup. On the other hand, David Ochoa, Zack Farnsworth and Andrew Brody are still injured. The Dynamo will have Darwin Ceren back as he served his one game suspension. Nevertheless, Bobby Wood found the back of the net last week and will look to score once again. RSL has been improving their game. They are the odds-on favorite over the Dynamo who have been struggling all year.
Statement Victory Needed
This match is pivotal for Real Salt Lake as it can help them be in playoff contention. This will be the last time these two clubs meet, and a win will break the tiebreaker that they have this season of the last two encounters between these two has ended in a tie. The presence of the fans should help boost their confidence.
Kickoff for this game is Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 8 PM Mountain Time.
Featured image courtesy Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports