Houston Dynamo host Real Salt Lake at the PNC Stadium in the MLS 2022 season-opener on Sunday. Kickoff set for 28th February 2022 03:00 EAT.
Houston Dynamo are hoping for better play this season as they finished a lowly 13th in the regular season, failing to qualify for the MLS Cup too. El Naranja have seen their defense breached in 6 of their previous 6 matches, giving up 13 goals during that time.
Houston Dynamo will be hoping for a better result following a 2-0 MLS loss in their previous game against Montreal Impact. In that game, Houston Dynamo managed 50% possession and 9 attempts on goal with 3 on target. For their opponents, Montreal Impact had 16 attempts on goal with 6 on target. Camacho (58′) and Miller (62′) scored for Montreal Impact.
The Claret and Cobalt, meanwhile, came seventh and finished runners-up in the cup. Throughout their six most recent matches, Pablo Mastroeni’s Real Salt Lake have had reason to celebrate scoring 7 times thus giving them the goals per game average of 1.17.
Real Salt Lake will be aiming to make amends here following a 2-0 defeat last time out to Portland Timbers in MLS Cup Playoffs competition. In that game, Real Salt Lake had 49% possession and 7 attempts at goal with 3 of them on target. On the other side, Portland Timbers got 14 shots on goal with 7 of them on target. Mora (5′) and Moreno (61′) scored for Portland Timbers.
Houston Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake head to head
These two teams has had 39 head to head encounters since 2005 in which Houston has 15 victories while RSL has 12 victories and 12 matches ended up in a stalemate.
- Salt Lake 1-1 Houston 02/02/22
- Salt Lake 2-1 Houston 19/08/21
- Houston 0-0 Salt Lake 01/08/21
- Salt Lake 1-1 Houston 27/06/21
- Houston 4-0 Salt Lake 20/02/20
Home
- Dallas 2-1 Houston
- Houston 2-1 Toronto
- Houston 0-4 Austin
- Phoenix Rising 1-2 Houston
- Houston 3-2 Colorado
Away
- Portland 3-0 Salt Lake
- Salt Lake 0-0 Minnesota
- Salt Lake 1-4 Viking FK
- Salt Lake 1-1 Houston
- Portland 2-0 Salt Lake
Houston Dynamo team news
Paulo Nagamura will have a full squad.
Real Salt Lake team news
Pablo Mastroeni will be without the services of Nick Besler, Damir Kreilach, Axel Kei, David Ochoa, Rubio Rubín and Zack Farnsworth due to injuries and Aaron Herrera due to suspension.
Prediction and odds
The opening game is often a chance for teams to try out new line-ups Houston will be looking to count on their home advantage but Salt Lake should be able to secure a point.
- Houston win
- Draw
- Both teams to score
