Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Prediction: Houston Dynamo are favored to edge out Real Salt Lake with a 2-1 victory in this crucial Leagues Cup match, leveraging their home advantage and urgent need for points.
The Leagues Cup action continues as Houston Dynamo prepare to host Real Salt Lake in a crucial Group West 8 encounter. With both teams eyeing progression to the knockout stages, this match promises to be an intriguing affair at Shell Energy Stadium.
Match Details
Date: August 6, 2024
Time: 1:00 AM UTC
Venue: Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas
Match Preview
This encounter is shaping up to be a must-win for Houston Dynamo. After their opening day defeat, they find themselves bottom of the group and in desperate need of points to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
Real Salt Lake, on the other hand, have the luxury of knowing that a draw would be enough to secure their progression. However, head coach Pablo Mastroeni is unlikely to set his team up defensively, given their attacking prowess.
The Dynamo will look to leverage their home advantage and push for an early goal to settle any nerves. Their recent defensive solidity in MLS play will be put to the test against an RSL side that has shown they can score goals.
For Real Salt Lake, the counter-attack could prove to be a potent weapon. With the pace of Anderson Julio and the creativity of players like Rubio Rubin, they have the tools to hurt Houston on the break.
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Lineups and Team News
Houston Dynamo Lineup (4-3-3): Ponce, Sviatchenko, Blessing, Clark, Aliyu, Herrera, Artur, Escobar, Dorsey, Bassi, Micael
Real Salt Lake Lineup (4-2-3-1): Katranis, Crooks, Glad, Santos, Gomez, Ramirez, Eneli, Hidalgo, Luna, Ojeda, Beavers
Injured and Unavailable Players
Houston Dynamo:
- Nelson Quinones (knee injury)
- Adalberto Carrasquilla (doubtful – recent knock)
Real Salt Lake:
- Kevin Bonilla (knee injury)
- Marcelo Silva (muscle problem)
- Pablo Ruiz (knee injury)
Key Players to Watch
Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo) The experienced Mexican midfielder will be crucial in dictating play for the Dynamo. His vision and passing ability could be key to unlocking the RSL defense.
Anderson Julio (Real Salt Lake) The Ecuadorian forward has been in fine form recently and will pose a significant threat to Houston’s backline with his pace and movement.
Current Group Standings
- Real Salt Lake – 3 points
- Atlas – 3 points
- Houston Dynamo – 0 points
Recent Form
Houston Dynamo The Dynamo come into this match on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Atlas in their opening Leagues Cup fixture. Prior to that, they had been in decent form in MLS play:
- Loss vs Atlas (Leagues Cup)
- Win vs Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
- Win vs San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
- Draw vs Minnesota United (MLS)
Real Salt Lake RSL kicked off their Leagues Cup campaign with an impressive 2-1 victory over Atlas. Their recent MLS form has been somewhat mixed:
- Win vs Atlas (Leagues Cup)
- Loss vs Colorado Rapids (MLS)
- Draw vs Los Angeles FC (MLS)
- Loss vs Portland Timbers (MLS)
Head-to-Head
The two sides have met 41 times in competitive fixtures, with Houston holding a slight edge:
- Houston Dynamo wins: 16
- Real Salt Lake wins: 14
- Draws: 11
Their most recent encounter in MLS saw Real Salt Lake emerge victorious with a 3-2 win on July 4, 2024.
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. The streaming service is available in numerous countries worldwide, ensuring global coverage for this exciting Leagues Cup clash.
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake Live Stream and TV Schedule for Top-Tier Countries:
- USA: MLS Season Pass
- Canada: MLS Season Pass
- UK: MLS Season Pass
- Germany: MLS Season Pass
- France: MLS Season Pass
- Spain: MLS Season Pass
- Italy: MLS Season Pass
- Australia: MLS Season Pass
- Japan: MLS Season Pass
- Brazil: MLS Season Pass
Who Will Win?
Given the stakes involved and Houston’s need for a win, we can expect an open and entertaining match. Both teams have shown they can find the back of the net, but defensive vulnerabilities could also play a part.
Final Score Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Real Salt Lake
While Real Salt Lake has shown their attacking prowess, Houston Dynamo’s home advantage and desperate need for a win might just give them the edge in this crucial Leagues Cup encounter.
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