HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, July 30, 2021) – Real Salt Lake is set to open a stretch of three-consecutive road games on Saturday, July 31 when it faces Houston Dynamo FC at BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas at 6:30 p.m. MT. The match will be the first of three games in eight days.
The match will be broadcast live on KMYU and can be accessed locally via live stream on the KSL TV app. ESPN700 will carry the English radio broadcast and Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3, La Gran D 102.3 and KTUB 1600.
Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo FC
BBVA Stadium; Houston, Texas
Saturday, July 31, 2021; 6:30 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Saturday’s RSL vs. HOU game Available Online
Those seeking the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Saturday's contest between Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Taran Meyer in the RSL Communications Department via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.
Records: Real Salt Lake 5-4-5, (20 points, 7th in West); Houston Dynamo (3-4-8, 17 points, 9th in West)
Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a 11-12-8 record against Houston Dynamo FC with the most recent match resulting in a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 26, during which Justen Glad scored for RSL in the 10th minute.
Stories to Watch:
Things Are Looking Up
Through 14 games in 2021 Real Salt Lake has found the back of the net 24 times, tied for the fifth-most in Major League Soccer. On the opposite side, the team has only allowed 16 goals for the sixth-best goal differential in the league. Last year the team only managed to score 25 goals, while allowing 35 for a -10 goal differential.
Wood You Look at That
Last weekend against Colorado Rapids forward Bobby Wood secured his first goal for RSL. Prior to his goal, Wood had several runs at goal, but was tripped up by defenders just outside of the 18-yard-box. In the 30th minute he could not be contained as he drove his way down the pitch before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net. He is now the ninth player to score for RSL this season.
Another Day Another Draw
Houston Dynamo FC are winless in eight matches dating back to their 2-1 win against Vancouver on May 22. However, six of their last eight games have ended in draws, most recently a 0-0 result against Vancouver on July 20 and a 1-1- finish against San Jose Earthquakes on July 24. Houston’s eight draws are currently tied with Atlanta United and Nashville SC for the most of any team this season. One of the team’s draws includes the 1-1 result against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 26.
You Again
After being traded from Los Angeles FC to Houston Dynamo FC just one day before the Texas side faces his former club, Corey Baird will be available to suit up against Real Salt Lake for the third time this season. Baird was previously traded from RSL to LAFC for cash considerations and an international roster spot during the off season. In his three years in Utah, Baird scored 15 goals in 83 appearances and was named the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year.
Connections: RSL Assistant Coach Pablo Mastroeni previously served in the same position under Dynamo FC Head Coach Tab Ramos before joining Freddy Juarez and his staff at Real Salt Lake. Similarly, one of Houston’s Assistant Coaches Martin Vasquez, led the Real Monarchs at the beginning of the 2019 USL Championship season and was a longtime fixture in the coaching ranks with the RSL Academy.
Former RSL Homegrown Player Corey Baird was traded from Los Angeles FC to Houston just one day before the match, making him available to suit up against his former club for the third time this season. Baird was previously traded from RSL this past offseason. During his time in Utah the forward appeared in 83 matches, scored 15 goals and was named the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year.
RSL forward Rubio Rubin and defenders Justen Glad and Aaron Herrera each played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup under Ramos while he served as U.S. U-20 National Team Head Coach.
