The familiar, figurative sound of the proverbial Storyline bell ushers in a fresh pre-game procession for a new competitive experience, particularly, in this case, as our beloved Claret-and-Cobalt pushes forward away from the disappointment of last week’s home capitulation.
Next up for RSL is a trip to the Gulf Coast for a crucial away clash against heated rivals Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday.
‘Two losses in three’ certainly doesn’t make for the most pleasant reading, and there are those who would yet argue “grim” as perhaps being a more fitting description. Saturday presents the chance for another bite at the cherry.
Storylines previews some important narratives for which supporters should be mindful.
Overcoming a Beleaguered Recent History – and the Power of Contemporary Form?
As Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni and Co. prepare for the weekend’s pivotal round of action against whom surely counts now as RSL’s perennial antagonists, recent history turns sharply into focus, and indeed it tends to whenever these two sides come together. In fact, for RSL at least, the baggage involved make it nigh on impossible to overlook.
Saturday’s looming encounter is set to represent the 10th meeting between both sides in just the past three years. No two other teams across the Western Conference have faced each other with more regularity during that same period.
Throughout the previous nine meetings between both clubs across 2023 and 2024, RSL have enjoyed merely one 90-minute victory to boast of, which arrived in a 3-2 home comeback blockbuster in early July of last year. The team’s only other victory over the Dynamo in the past two years occurred via a playoff penalty shootout - technically a draw in the record books - in a series RSL ultimately lost in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The remaining result figures certainly, here, make for dire reading. Six defeats and two draws, including 3-0 and 4-1 away humiliations in successive games last season across multiple competitions, as Mastroeni’s men were unceremoniously dumped out of the 2024 Leagues Cup in August before suffering a domestic season hammering in early September.
Away from home, RSL are yet to win a game against the Orange at what is now Shell Energy Stadium in nine attempts, not since former captain Albert Rusnak’s late brace in the final 10 minutes of stoppage time earned his side a come-from-behind narrow 2-1 victory in August, 2018.
Numbers and records speak volumes in the modern game and RSL now precariously finds itself on the ignominious end of the record books here, heading into the weekend’s contest.
Recent form does perhaps provide some respite, however, albeit briefly. But then again, this is a team that requires all of the small mercies and advantages it can obtain.
RSL’s run of two losses and one victory in its three opening domestic games preceding Saturday is only made to look more glamorous by a Dynamo side who have suffered two defeats and a draw and are yet to register a win at all in their opening games of the season.
Mastroeni’s men currently hold the advantage in terms of the league table, two points and two places ahead of their weekend opponents, but all that could change adversely if the team fails to get a positive result on Saturday, whilst in the eyes of supporters, nothing but a victory will suffice, given the team’s less than impressive start to the season.
It all sets the stage for a truly intriguing, potentially captivating weekend battle on the Gulf coast.
Ajago, Piol, and the Million-Dollar Striker Question
When the starting team news for RSL is unveiled minutes before kickoff on Saturday, the name supporters will arguably be most curious to see is who gets selected up front to lead the line: Forster Ajago or Ari Piol? Both, at the very least, have nailed forth satisfactory evidence to their individual masts thus far this young campaign.
Manager Mastroeni opted for the same starting lineup for a successive game during last Saturday’s San Diego encounter from the preceding weekend’s 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders, which rewarded Piol with a second consecutive start.
In the case of the Australian, it proved an inspired move, with the 20-year-old taking only 17 minutes to put his team in front with the first goal of the game, finishing with aplomb after being gifted the hosts’ best chance of the opening half from a sweeping 27-pass team move.
With the strike, the former Macarthur FC forward registered his first goal in his new club colors, arriving in only his second appearance. Piol’s one goal in two appearances rivals fellow striker Ajago, who scored his second goal in his fourth game, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 home-opening MLS win against Seattle.
Being the only two recognised strikers currently on Mastroeni’s senior teamsheet in a group which has thus far struggled for consistent goals this season (four goals scored in five games), the pair’s three total strikes makes for all the goals scored by team personnel this campaign.
An unchanged lineup from the team’s last game is expected to give way to major alterations at the weekend, in the wake of the 3-1 defeat inflicted by Mikey Varas’s San Diego side, as Mastroeni continues to tinker with his team in search of what the manager feels is his best eleven.
The team’s competition for places continues to heat up, with the number nine spot one of the positions up for permanent grabs. And with all of his sides’ goals this season having come from either one of his strikers, against such an even Houston Dynamo side in what has historically proven to be a tense, hostile atmosphere, the fate of Saturday’s game could potentially very well reside in whoever RSL’s staff selects to lead the line.
It’s an opportunity ripe for the taking.
Stars to Watch
RSL midfielder Diego Luna headlines our Stars to Watch section ahead of this weekend, narrowly edging out Piol and Ajago.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a successful personal start to the year which saw him grab an assist on his first senior international start for the USMNT in a 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in January, and has seen him once again named to head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s March USA squad selections which will compete for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League title.
The 2024 Young Player of the Year has has undoubtedly endured a less than impressive beginning to life domestically in 2025 but, on the basis of his recent international selection at least, will be eager to return to his best when RSL take the field at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday before heading into Pochettino’s USMNT camp.
Ari Piol, Forster Ajago, Dominik Marczuk
Houston Dynamo: Amine Bassi
