The anticipation is building as the Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake prepare for a thrilling showdown in the upcoming MLS Cup game. While many expected Inter Miami to take the league by storm with Messi leading the charge, the reality has been quite different, making way for other teams to shine in the MLS playoffs. Among the notable teams ready to showcase their skills, the Dynamo and Salt Lake are poised for an exciting battle.
The opponents
Houston Dynamo is stepping onto the field with an impressive record in the regular season, having suffered only two defeats at home out of 34 games. Their dominance on home turf is evident, securing 11 victories out of a total 17 played at home. This outstanding performance places them at the top of the list as the best home team in the Western Conference. In fact, only Columbus Crew, Philadelphia, and New England have managed to boast better records in their home games.
During the regular season, the Dynamo and Salt Lake clashed twice. The first match ended in a goalless draw in Houston, setting the stage for an intense battle in Utah. The Dynamo put on a show, securing a resounding 3-0 victory over Salt Lake, thanks to a masterful performance by Corey Baird.
The new format
As the playoffs approach, it’s important to understand the format. The first-round series consists of a best-of-three setup, with the higher-ranked team playing the first and potentially the third match (if necessary) on their home turf. It’s a winner-takes-all scenario, where the team that wins two games advances to the next phase.
Here’s the schedule for the showdown between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake:
Match 1: Sunday, October 29 | 5:00 pm (Shell Energy Stadium)
Match 2: Monday, November 6 | 9:00 pm (America First Field)
Match 3 (if necessary): Saturday, November 11 | 4:00 pm (Shell Energy Stadium)
Real Salt Lake completed the 2023 MLS Regular Season on a high note with a 1-0 win against Colorado. Diego Luna, a 20-year-old U.S. Olympic talent, secured the victory with a stunning goal in the 76th minute. This marked the second consecutive week in which Luna scored late to secure vital road points for RSL. The win against Colorado allowed RSL to establish a new club record, defeating the same opponent four times in a single season for the first time ever. It was also the first time since 2019 that they amassed 50 points in the regular season.
Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni has led Real Salt Lake to the postseason for the third consecutive season. As a club, RSL has reached the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, missing only the COVID-affected 2020 campaign. They’ve made the postseason for the sixth time in the last nine seasons, with notable achievements including reaching the final four of the annual Open Cup tournament and advancing to the Round of 16 in the inaugural Leagues Cup.
With history on their side, Real Salt Lake heads into the playoffs with confidence, and the Dynamo should brace themselves for a fierce challenge.
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