The Basics
Houston Dynamo at Real Salt Lake
Wednesday, May 30, 2018, 8:30 p.m. CT
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UtahTICKETS
Broadcast Information
KUBE 57 – 8:00 p.m. (CHANNEL LISTINGS)
ESPN+ – 8:30 p.m.
95.7 HD-3/Radio.com app – 8:00 p.m.
Univision Radio 1010 AM – 8:00 p.m.
Preview
After a comprehensive 3-1 win over NYCFC, the Houston Dynamo head to Rio Tinto Stadium attempting to stretch their unbeaten streak to five games, while Real Salt Lake are hoping to gain momentum following a 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday
The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last three games against Real Salt Lake (3W-1D), conceding just one goal over the four contests, per Opta.
- Dynamo pleased with "fearless" Fuenmayor
- Manotas grows up in Houston, and he's not done yet
- West favorites? Rolling Dynamo say not yet
- Anatomy of a Goal: Saucedo's first MLS goal
- Saucedo nets memorable 1st goal: "A special day"
Real Salt Lake
Mike Petke made four changes from the side that lost to the Philadelphia Union, 4-1, the previous week, with Danilo Acosta and Brooks Lennon starting at each outside back spot, Sunny coming on for Damir Kreilach in the three-man midfield and Sebastian Saucedo earning his second start of the season as part of a three-man attacking line.
Saucedo, the 21-year-old Homegrown Player, provided the heroics for Real Salt Lake (5-6-1) with his first career MLS goal in the 61st minute providing the difference in a 1-0 win in Seattle, RSL’s first road victory of the season.
“This shows what happens when everybody is committed defensively,” Petke said after the match. “It’s not going to be pretty at times, but they got extremely organized and did an excellent job. It feels great. Great shot from [Saucedo] – he hits that goal in practice at least seven times a week. It’s good to see him do it in an actual game. I’m really proud of the guys.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: M - Albert Rusnak
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Tony Beltran (right knee surgery), M - Jordan Allen (knee injury), GK - Alex Horwath (Achilles surgery), D - Shawn Barry (knee injury), D - Demar Phillips (ankle injury); QUESTIONABLE: F - Joao Plata (quad injury)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Nick Rimando — Brooks Lennon, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta — Luis Silva, Kyle Beckerman, Sunny — Jefferson Savarino, Corey Baird, Sebastian Saucedo
- Notes: Kyle Beckerman is one of three Real Salt Lake players who have played every minute of every game this season (12 appearances, 1,080 minutes). He has not logged more than 28 appearances or 2,500 minutes in a season since 2014. … Dating back to last season, Real Salt Lake have won nine of their last 10 MLS matches at Rio Tinto Stadium. They have conceded 11 goals in the 10 games, five of which came in a 5-1 loss to LAFC in early March.
Houston Dynamo
Wilmer Cabrera made one change to his starting XI from the side that defeated the Chicago Fire, 3-2, the previous week, with Leonardo returning to start centrally in a four-man backline as Adolfo Machado moved to right back in place of Andrew Wenger.
After falling behind early on David Villa’s eighth goal of the season, Alejandro Fuenmayor leveled in the 21st minute and then Houston (5-3-3) dominated the final 45 minutes with Tomas Martinez and Alberth Elis scoring after halftime as the Dynamo celebrated their third win in their last four games.
“They were a dangerous, tough team and a very good team, but I think little by little we took the game, we were more solid, we were settling into the game and now we had the possibilities to create chances,” Cabrera said after the match.
- Suspended: D - Alejandro Fuenmayor
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: D - Adolfo Machado
- Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn left ACL), D - Philippe Senderos (right hamstring injury), D - George Malki (left knee sprain), D - Dylan Remick (concussion), D - Kevin Garcia (left hamstring injury), D - Jared Watts (right hamstring injury), M - Darwin Ceren (leg injury)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Andrew Wenger, Jared Watts, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley — Oscar Boniek Garcia, Eric Alexander — Alberth Elis, Tomas Martinez, Romell Quioto — Mauro Manotas
- Notes: Elis has four goals and assists in the month of May. Only three players have more. … Houston enter this match with the third-highest goals per road game (2.0) and xG per road game (2.04) this season.
All-Time Series
- Overall: Real Salt Lake 8 wins, 36 goals … Houston Dynamo 12 wins, 37 goals … 6 ties
- At Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 6 wins, 13 goals … Dynamo 2 wins, 6 goals … 5 ties
- Last meeting at Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake 0, Houston Dynamo 0 (Aug. 5, 2017)
Officials
Referee: Dave Gantar
Assistant Referees: Nick Uranga, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
