Houston Dynamo FC return to BBVA Stadium on Saturday to host Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. CT. The Dynamo returned from the international break with two draws away from home beginning with a scoreless draw in Utah against the Vancouver Whitecaps and a 1-1 draw in California against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday.
Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera scored his second goal of the season and played a large role defensively to earn a split of the points. The midfielder led the team in blocks with two and finished with eight recoveries and two interceptions. Houston will look for additional options in the attacking third due to the suspension of forward Fafa Picault due to yellow card accumulation. The forward received a caution last Saturday in San Jose and will not be available for selection this weekend.
The Dynamo will welcome Corey Baird who was acquired in a trade with Los Angeles FC on Friday morning. The Escondido, Calif. native joins the Dynamo after scoring three goals and finishing with two assists in 14 appearances for LAFC this season in nine starts. The 25-year-old has earned four caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team and tallied an assist in his debut, a 3-0 victory over Panama on Jan. 28, 2019.
Houston hosts a Salt Lake team that has won two of their last four games. The Dynamo backline will be tasked with containing one of the most potent attacking teams in the Western Conference. Salt Lake has scored 24 goals this season, the third highest mark in the conference. Damir Kreilach has contributed to half of the goals scored with five assists and seven goals. The Dynamo will also have to track Rubio Rubin and Albert Rusnak who combine for eight goals.
