Real Salt Lake eyes key home clash vs. Dynamo (Aug 05, 2017)
Real Salt Lake has wasted chances to pick up wins as well the valuable points that were available in its past two home matches.
The side looks to get back in the groove at home when it hosts the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
Real Salt Lake (7-12-4, 29 points) went unbeaten in July, winning twice and drawing in its other two games while outscoring their opponents 13-6 in those matches.
But it's those draws that has put a burr under Real Salt Lake's saddle. Both came at home -- to league-leading Sporting Kansas City on July 22 and last Saturday versus Columbus, respectively -- and Real Salt Lake had leads late into the second half in each match.
"We need to build the momentum again," Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran said. "We let it get away from us a little bit obviously, by not capitalizing and by not getting a win in either game, but we have another home game.
"We should win our home game, and then now we're confident on the road, so there's momentum to build. We know what needs to be done to get in the playoffs."
Real Salt Lake rests in eighth on the Western Conference table, five points back of sixth-place Vancouver for the last playoff spot. A third straight failure to grab all three points in a home match could prove costly down the stretch, especially to a team that's roared to life after a dismal first two months of the season.
"Pressure is a good thing," Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "If there's pressure, that means there's an opportunity."
Meanwhile, the Dynamo (9-7-6, 33 points in 22 matches) continue to be one of the best teams in MLS and show no signs of slowing down.
Houston also collected two wins and two draws in July despite being without four key players, Mexico striker Erick Torres and the Honduran trio of Romell Quioto, Boniek Garcia and Alberth Elis, while the CONCACAF Gold Cup was being contested.
One of those wins (a 3-1 decision at D.C. United on July 22) was Houston's first on the road this season. The Dynamo are one of just four teams in the league without a loss at home, and the key to their ability to challenge Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas for the top spot in the Western Conference will be in how they play away from the Bayou City.
Being back at full strength after the Gold Cup should give Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera even more options going forward.
"We are trying to make sure that when we are together we put the best team available and we try to give them the best opportunity to perform well," Cabrera said. "We are going to be sure that they all receive the best possible treatment in order for them to perform well."
Houston has won three straight matches against Real Salt Lake, including a 5-1 home rout over Real Salt Lake on May 31. But Dynamo defender A.J. DeLaGarza understands that Real Salt Lake is a totally different team now from the last time the two sides squared off on the pitch
"RSL is a very young, attacking group that can break out and it's very quick," DeLaGarza said. "Similar to Portland (which Houston drew 2-2 in its most recent match), their top four guys can really come after you and Real Salt Lake may be a little faster than Portland. We've got to be aware of that."
Before the latest success, Real Salt Lake had won five straight against the Dynamo. Despite their differing starts, Houston and Real Salt Lake are only separated by just eight points in the Western Conference standings.
