This week will see the Eastern Conference’s second best side come up against the second worst side, with Houston Dynamo set to host Real Salt Lake in a seriously mismatched Major League Soccer game.
Real Salt Lake will travel to Houston Dynamo’s BBVA Compass Stadium on Thursday, with kick-off set for 1:30am BST.
With a victory, the hosts would take the top spot in the division, as they seek to add a third MLS Cup to their trophy cabinet this season. Despite winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, Houston Dynamo have suffered a disappointing few years, culminating in a lowly 19th place finish in the overall regular season table last year.
Yet, the club have bounced back in 2017, winning six of their first 13 fixtures to climb into second place with 20 points. That leaves them just two points off of table-toppers Sporting Kansas City with a game in hand.
Three points on Thursday would be enough to leapfrog Sporting KC, and Wilmer Cabrera’s side will be confident that they can do just that. Yet, they will have to make changes in order to get a result. The club are without a victory in their last three matches, having lost two and drawn one.
Yet, all three of those results came away from home, where the Dynamo have struggled to perform this year. While they have yet to record a win on the road, their home form has been drastically better. They are unbeaten at the BBVA Compass and have won all but one of their home games so far. Coming up against a side that have lost more times than any other team this season, the odds are firmly in Houston’s favour.
Although, Real Salt Lake can’t be ruled out just yet. Mike Petke’s side suffered a disappointing start to the season, but their form has improved somewhat over the last two weeks. The club have recorded two wins in their last three matches, including a surprise victory over Western Conference high-flyers New York City FC. While they have yet to prove themselves on the road, RSL certainly have the ability to hurt a Houston side that have conceded six goals in their last three games.
While the two teams sit at opposite ends of the table, their recent results don’t match up to their current standings. RSL are in better form going into this tie. Yet, despite Houston Dynamo’s disappointing few weeks, their impeccable home record makes them favourites to take all three points and get their Supporters’ Shield title challenge back on track.