Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynam, Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 8/18/21
Salt Lake City vs. Houston
Real Salt Lake snapped their three-match winless streak in their last match and play host to a Houston team that is in the midst of a long winless streak.
Houston has not won in their last 12 matches, and they have lost their last three. The club is only two points out of the basement in the Western Conference and they have a goal differential of -8. In their long winless streak, they were on the road and played to a 1-1 draw on the road against Real Salt Lake.
Real Salt Lake had lost two in a row before their defense stepped up in their last match in a shutout win. They are in the sixth spot in the West, have a goal differential of +7, and are led by a defense that has conceded 20 goals in 18 matches.
Not a Good Stretch
Going winless in 12 matches is a bad stretch, for sure, but they have been especially bad of late with three losses in their last three matches where they have been outscored 8-3. They have only netted one goal in their last two matches, which came in their last one where they were at home and lost to the Colorado Rapids 3-1. In that one, Fabrice Picault tied it up at 1-1 in injury time in the first half but the club gave up two goals in the second half. Houston took the loss even though they won the time of possession (54%-46%), had more shots (25-15), and more shots on target (10-6).
Maximiliano Urruti leads the club with six goals but has not found the back of the net over the last several matches. Fabrice Picault and Tyler Pasher has scored four goals apiece and each led the squad with two assists each. Pasher is questionable for the Real match with a lower-body injury, FW Carlos Quintero is out, and Ethan Bartlow is questionable.
Defense Helps End Skid
Real Salt Lake was winless in three matches before their last one where they played solid defense in a 1-0 home win over Austin FC. Bobby Wood scored the lone goal in the 32nd minute and they controlled most of the second half with Austin playing with 10 men after a red card early in the half. Real had eight shots on target in the win and they only allowed one. While any win is a good win Salt Lake was at home and beat expansion Austin, who have scored the fewest goals, by far, in MLS.
Damir Kreilach leads Real with eight goals, and he scored in the match previous to the last one. Rubio Rubin and Albert Rusnák have combined for nine goals and Aaron Herrera leads the team with five assists. G David Ochoa is out for the Houston match with a quad injury, Andrew Brody is out with an undisclosed injury, and FW Douglas Martìnez is out due to international duty.
Pick: Real Salt Lake -130
Houston has not won in 12 matches, and they have lost their last three matches where they struggled on both sides of the pitch being outscored 8-3. They have only scored one goal in their last two matches and faces a Real side that is coming off a shutout win. Real and Houston played to a 1-1 draw in Salt Lake City earlier this season and I look for another close defensive match. However, this time around the home club in Real will press on the attack and put more pressure on the struggling Dynamo. Houston will put up a fight, but their attack will not get it done and they will not snap their winless streak with Real winning their second in a row.
Total: Under 2.5 goals
I am leaning towards the Under in this match, as that was the pick in the first match between these teams earlier in the season. On top of that Houston has only scored one goal in their last two matches. To go even further Real only had one goal in their last match facing expansion Austin. Real has the better midfield and that will be key in this encounter and that is where most of the match will be played. Do not look for many shots on target and Real only gave up one in their last match. This being a defensive match the Under is the pick.
