HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, February 25, 2021) – Real Salt Lake kicks off its 18th Major League Soccer season Sunday, its first under the new leadership of owners David Blitzer and Ryan Smith, as well as the start of Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s first full season at the helm. This year’s season-opening match at PNC Stadium in Houston, Texas kicks off Sunday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. MT against Houston Dynamo FC.
Sunday’s match will be locally broadcast on KMYU (2.2 over-the-air, 643/22 Comcast, 12 Satellite) and available to stream via the KSL TV & KSL Sports apps, as well as via KSLSports.com. Fans can also follow via ESPN700 AM radio. Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3 FM, La Gran D 102.3 FM and KTUB 1600 AM for the local radio broadcast.
Real Salt Lake will return to Rio Tinto Stadium next weekend, Saturday, March 5 for a 4:00 p.m. MT kickoff, hosting Seattle Sounders FC for this year’s Home Opener, tickets for which can be purchased by visiting www.RSL.com or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
Real Salt Lake @ Houston Dynamo FC
PNC Stadium; Houston, Texas
Sunday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Sunday’s RSL @ HOU game Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2022 MLS Game Guide in advance of Sunday’s contest between Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo FC 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 RSL Communications via email at tmeyer@rsl.com
2022 Records: Real Salt Lake (0-0-0, 0 points); Houston Dynamo FC (0-0-0, 0 points)
Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a record of 12-12-8 against Houston Dynamo FC. Most recently, RSL earned a 2-1 victory at Rio Tinto Stadium on August 18, 2021 courtesy of a goal from FW Justin Meram in the sixth minute and a late-game winner from FW Anderson Julio in the 88th minute. RSL has not lost at PNC Stadium since 2017, posting a 1-0-2 record in the last three matches in Houston, Texas. RSL drew at Houston, 1-1, in its 2019 season-opening match, part of an active 12-game unbeaten run in annual openers, dating back to 2010 for RSL.
STORYLINES TO WATCH:
Captain Kreilach
With the departure of former captain and midfielder Albert Rusnák, midfielder and 2021 MLS All-Star, RSL MVP and Golden Boot winner Damir Kreilach has been named captain of Real Salt Lake. Kreilach is the Club’s fifth captain, joining former head coach Jason Kreis, MF Carey Talley, Club legend Kyle Beckerman and Rusnak. In four seasons with RSL, Kreilach has scored 42 goals and recorded 23 assists in 119 appearances.
Season-Opener Warriors
RSL arrives Sunday in Houston unbeaten in its last 12 season-opening matches, posting a 6-0-6 (Win-Loss-Draw) record since 2010, the second-best mark in MLS over that period (FC Dallas, 7-0-5, also last lost a season opener in 2009). RSL enters the 2022 season with a 6-5-6 (W-L-D) record all-time in each year’s away debuts dating back to its inaugural 2005 season.
Houston Roster ChangesLast season, Real Salt Lake posted a 1-0-2 record against Houston Dynamo, with Justen Glad, Anderson Julio and Justin Meram scoring the three goals across the three games. Since then Houston has made several roster changes, including the addition of a Designated Player. Former Portland Thorns goalkeeper Steve Clark joined the Dynamo as a free agent, Brazilian defender Zeca signed with Houston on a free transfer and forward Sebastian Ferreira joined as the team’s second Designated Player.
Connections: RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni served as an assistant for Houston Dynamo FC during the 2020 season. Former RSL Homegrown Player and current Dynamo forward Corey Baird appeared in 83 matches, scored 15 goals and was named the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year.
