HOUSTON (Sept. 13, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC continue their three-match homestand this Saturday, Sept. 14, hosting Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium, with kickoff scheduled at 7:30 p.m. CT. The matchup will mark the ninth meeting between the two sides in all competitions since the start of 2024.
The Club will also continue their Theme Night festivities by hosting **Noche Latina** as part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Fans can find more information and purchase tickets for the match HERE.
Houston currently sits seventh in the Western Conference with 41 points and a 11-8-8 (WLD) record. The Dynamo have only lost twice in their last 13 MLS matches, while finding the back of the net 24 times during that stretch.
The Dynamo remain in the heart of playoff contention with seven league matches remaining in their push for the playoffs, including four at home and four versus Western Conference opponents above the playoff line. Houston is looking to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013.
Houston is coming off back-to-back matches where they secured four points and two clean sheets with a 2-0 road win on Aug. 31 and a scoreless home draw on Sept. 7. The road win saw MLS debut goals from forward Ezequiel Ponce and Lawrence Ennali, while Ponce and defender Franco Escobar each earned MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday honors. Notably, goalkeeper Steve Clark managed eight saves across the two matches to secure Houston’s sixth and seventh clean sheets of the season.
Midfielder and captain Héctor Herrera earned MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday honors for his efforts versus LAFC in the most recent scoreless draw. The Mexican international led the team in chances created with four scoring opportunities, and led the midfield in touches (120), accurate passes in the final third (31), key passes (5), crosses (10) and duels won (5).
The Dynamo continue to boast one of the best defensive records so far this season, even with a shuffling back line that has seen seven players start due to injuries. The team has allowed just 31 goals this season, which is the fewest in the Western Conference and third fewest in MLS. Houston also leads MLS with 59.5 percent possession across the season, allowing the Dynamo to control matches and dictate pace of play.
Real Salt Lake will enter Saturday’s fixture sitting third in the Western Conference standings with 47 points and 13-6-8 (WLD) record. They look to improve on their most recent stretch of games, winning only two of their last six league fixtures since defeating the Dynamo 3-2 at home on Aug. 31.
Currently, Colombian forward Cristian Arango leads Salt Lake with 17 goals and 11 assists. However, the visitors will be without dynamic forward Andrés Gómez, who was transferred to established French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais in the most recent transfer window. The 21-year-old attacker was responsible for 13 goals and nine assists in 2024.
Houston and Salt Lake have met nine times in all competitions since the start of 2023, most recently facing off in the final group stage match year’s edition of Leagues Cup when the Dynamo defeated Real 3-0 to finish top of their group and advance to the Round of 32. The Dynamo scored three goals in the first half for the first time since October last season, highlighted by Herrera’s goal from outside of the box in the seventh minute. The Mexican international also assisted with a set piece delivery on defender Micael’s goal in the 25th minute, while a Real Salt Lake own goal in the 42nd minute secured the result.
Houston will look to even the all-time regular season series with Salt Lake on Saturday, as the visitors hold a 14-13-11 (WLD) record over the Dynamo in a long history of matchups. The two sides met six times in 2023 between regular season, U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs matches. Houston finished undefeated in regulation against Salt Lake with a 3-0-3 (WLD) record in all competitions. Last season, Houston eliminated Salt Lake from the MLS Cup Playoffs, winning 4-3 on penalties in Game 3 of the Round One Best-of-3 series to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the eighth time in Club history.
One former Real Salt Lake player is on the current Houston Dynamo roster in defender Tate Schmitt, who arrived in Houston via a trade ahead of the 2023 season. Schmitt spent four seasons in Salt Lake, totaling 24 appearances (14 starts) and two goals.
The Dynamo will close their three-game homestand against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, Sept. 18, before traveling to the state capital to face in-state Austin FC on Saturday, Sept. 21.
