3 days after dropping to the Houston Dynamo within the U.S. Open Cup semifinals, Actual Salt Lake gets a shot at exacting revenge when it hosts Houston in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday evening.
The golf equipment stepped out of doors of MLS play on Wednesday evening for a 120-minute fit that ended with a 3-1 loss for Salt Lake. Anderson Julio’s second-half equalizer compelled an additional half-hour however Houston prevailed in the back of past due targets from Adalberto Carrasquilla and Luis Caicedo.
RSL are unbeaten of their remaining 11 league fits in opposition to the Dynamo, with 5 wins and 6 attracts.
“We knew it used to be gonna be a tricky fit,” Salt Lake trainer Pablo Mastroeni stated. “I am actually pleased with the way in which the blokes fought to get again within the recreation, however I feel at the evening we simply were not excellent sufficient with the ball. Credit score to Houston, they are an excellent crew at house.”
Tempers flared towards the tip of the fit. Brayan Vera used to be proven a pink card within the 119th minute after grabbing Amine Bassi via the neck and punching him. Vera additionally retaliated in opposition to different Houston gamers who got here to Bassi’s protection earlier than being despatched off.
Vera’s absence left Salt Lake with handiest 10 gamers over the general short time of overtime.
“With a bit of luck it settles down within the subsequent two days,” Houston trainer Ben Olsen stated. “I feel it is an emotional recreation and there is a lot at stake. The reality it were given heated did not marvel me.”
Houston (9-10-5, 32 issues) is looking for its 3rd consecutive shutout in MLS play. The Dynamo have recorded back-to-back blank sheets, profitable 5-0 over the Portland Timbers remaining Sunday and posting a scoreless draw on the Colorado Rapids earlier than the lengthy smash for the Leagues Cup.
Protecting RSL’s offense in take a look at would possibly not be a very simple process. Salt Lake (10-7-7, 37 issues) has averaged 2.1 targets and six.6 photographs on objective over its remaining 10 fits. The Utah membership has stretched its unbeaten streak to 9, going 6-0-3 since its remaining defeat on Might 31.
Salt Lake’s offensive productiveness might take a success with the absence of Pablo Ruiz, who has a team-high six assists at the side of 4 targets this season. Ruiz suffered a season-ending knee harm in a 4-0 loss to Los Angeles FC in a Leagues Cup fit on Aug. 8.
—Box Degree Media
