Preview: Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Leagues Cup clash between Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Houston Dynamo will set out to end their Leagues Cup group-stage campaign on a high when they welcome Real Salt Lake to the Shell Energy Stadium on Tuesday.

The away side need just a point to confirm their place in the knockout stages, while their hosts are in the last chance saloon to avoid an early exit.

Match preview
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Houston Dynamo were left kicking themselves in their opening cup involvement against Atlas, which ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat on Sunday.

Ben Olsen’s men entered the contest as huge favourites to emerge triumphant, but an 83rd-minute opener from Jose Lozano saw them come away empty-handed.

While that was only a second defeat in 11 matches across all competitions dating back to May 30, it has left El Naranja on the brink of elimination from the Leagues Cup.

The 2019 quarter-finalists currently sit bottom of their group heading into the final matchday with no points on the board so far, meaning that only a win would secure progress into the round of 32.

Just over a month since suffering a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake in MLS action, Houston Dynamo must now exact revenge on home turf if they are to keep their cup run going.

© Imago

After watching their other two group members lock horns in the first round of matches, Real Salt Lake kicked off their Leagues Cup journey against Atlas on Friday.

They went behind to Luis Reyes’s strike just shy of the half-hour mark, before showing great spirit to claim a 2-1 triumph over their Liga MX counterparts at America First Field.

The victory was a much-needed one for Pablo Mastroeni’s men off the back of a three-game winless run, picking up just one point in that time.

Despite all of Houston Dynamo’s recent struggles, the goals have continued to flow for the Claret-and-Cobalt, who are now up to 53 strikes in 26 matches across all competitions this term.

This should inspire confidence in Tuesday’s visitors ahead of another encounter on the road, where they have managed only one win from nine leading up to this one.

Houston Dynamo Leagues Cup form:

Houston Dynamo form (all competitions):

Real Salt Lake Leagues Cup form:

Real Salt Lake form (all competitions):

© Reuters

Houston’s Nelson Quinones is still nursing a knee injury, and the forward will not take part in Tuesday’s affair.

Adalberto Carrasquilla is a major doubt for the home side here after coming off with an injury scare last time out.

Should Carrasquilla fail to pass a fitness test ahead of this one, Latif Blessing will be expected to start for the first time in five games.

Real Salt Lake duo Kevin Bonilla and Pablo Ruiz are both ruled out with knee injuries, although the former is closer to a return to action.

Thirty-five-year-old Marcelo Silva also misses out for the away side due to a muscle problem which has sidelined him since March.

Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar; Artur, Herrera; Blessing, Bassi, Aliyu; Ponce

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
Beavers; Hidalgo, Glad, Ramirez, Katranis; Eneli, Ojeda; Gomez, Crooks, Luna; Santos

We say: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Real Salt Lake
The onus is more on Houston Dynamo to take the fight to Real Salt Lake as they go in search of a much-needed win.

Goals have been a constant feature of this fixture over the years, and we expect that to continue here, with the home side seeing off their visitors in the end.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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