MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo Look for Third Straight Win Tonight in Salt Lake

Published on May 30, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - The Houston Dynamo ride a two-game win streak into Utah tonight as they take on Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium at 8:30 p.m. CDT. The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last four games and will look to close out the month of May with an undefeated record if they can capture a win or a draw tonight.

GAME INFORMATION:

MATCHUP: Houston Dynamo (5-3-3; 18 pts.) at Real Salt Lake (5-6-1; 16 pts.)

TIME: 8:30 p.m. CDT

TV: KUBE 57 (LOCAL CHANNEL GUIDE)

RADIO: 95.7 HD3 & Radio.com (English); Univision Radio 1010 AM (Spanish)

HERE ARE THREE KEY POINTS YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW AS YOU PREPARE FOR TONIGHT'S MATCH:

1. TESTING YOUR DEPTH - Tonight's game marks the second of three contests in a nine-day span for Houston. Such stretches happen throughout the MLS season, and each time it tests a team's depth. It's no different this time around for the Dynamo. Fortunately for Houston, head coach Wilmer Cabrera has made a habit of rotating his squad, with 43 different lineups used in 45 games as Dynamo boss, and 11 combinations in 11 games this season. With the loss of center back Adolfo Machado to World Cup duty with Panama, the back line will be stretched thin. However, Cabrera's rotational policy has also fostered a belief within the squad that every player can and will contribute at a high level when called upon. Weeks like this are exactly why the coach does it, and that depth will be put to the test starting tonight.

2. DEAL WITH THE ALTITUDE - Not only is tonight's game the middle leg of that three-games-in-nine-days stretch, it'll also be played at 4,226 feet above sea level in Sandy, Utah. Playing at altitude can be taxing for athletes who aren't acclimated. The generally accepted best practices for dealing with the altitude are either to arrive at least a week early to give the body time to adjust, or spend less than 24 hours there in order to minimize the effects of the thin air. The Dynamo opted for the latter approach, arriving to Salt Lake City on Tuesday evening. A typically fast-starting team, Houston would be well-served to jump on top early so that they can dictate the pace of the game.

3. BONIEK + TOMAS = SUCCESS - Houston is unbeaten in its last three games and winners of two straight. Two of the keys to that success have been central midfielders Boniek Garcia and Tomás Martinez. Garcia, the 33-year-old Honduran legend, has assists in each of the last three games; and in each of Houston's two wins, he set up game-winning goals through pure hustle and tenacity. Martinez, the 23-year-old Argentine, has two goals and an assist in the last three, combining with Boniek on both of his scores. That duo will likely continue to be key to the success of Houston's attack tonight, so keep an eye on the play of No. 27 and No. 10 in the middle of the park.

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