Real Salt Lake0 vs Houston Dynamo 1
September 17, 2016; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (12-10-8, 44 points); Houston Dynamo (6-11-11, 29 points)
Man of the Match: Nick Rimando. Though only credited with one official save, the ‘Wall of the Wasatch’ was top-class when called upon. Despite giving up one goal in the first half, Rimando kept his team organized and once again showed why he is one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever play in Major League Soccer.
Telling Stat: 65.8. RSL controlled the possession on both sides of the halftime break, but were not able to get their goal. Possession has always been a driving factor in games for RSL and they showed that they can control the pace and dictate the tempo.
What You Missed: RSL suffered its first home loss of the season at the hands of the Dynamo. The loss was RSL’s first at home since a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas on October 17, 2015. In Jeff Cassar’s tenure as Head Coach, RSL is 26-6-17 at home in MLS play. RSL is now 8-1-6 at home in 2016.
So What: With four games left on the regular season schedule for RSL, the team is still sitting comfortably in the playoff picture in the Western Conference. With two games both at home and the road, RSL will look to take the full three points in its remaining games. Next up for RSL is a tough home match against league and conference leaders FC Dallas. The game is slated to kick-off on Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.
