What we’re watching in Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo

Real Salt Lake host the Houston Dynamo tonight at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Dynamo are coming off of two draws and a loss in their last three games, but sit one place and two points above RSL in the western conference. RSL will have seen a few good things in their last game despite having fallen late.

Obviously Bobby Wood


USMNT striker Robert Wood made is Real Salt Lake debut against Seattle on Wednesday. While the team did give up a goal during his time on the field, it felt like RSL was much more dangerous when Wood and Rubin were playing along side one another. Wood will be the focal point of this game and though he may not start, if he and Rubin are both in the starting XI, how does that change the rest of the team?

Midfield ups and downs

Everton Luiz returned to the starting XI after a long time out with injury, but he struggled in RSL’s last game. Granted, they were taking on the best team in the league and no one covered themselves in glory. I’m curious to see if he’s given the start or if we see Ruiz and Belser together in the midfield.

Further up the field, Albert Rusnak had a good game. Not a great game, but it was much improved from what we’ve seen most of this season. He netted his first goal through a well-taken penalty. More impressive than his goal was his involvement and playmaking against Seattle. If this is the Rusnak we see going forward, then he’s certainly earned his starting spot.

Injury report

Out: Jeizon Ramirez, Zack Farnsworth

Predicted lineup