On Saturday, we will discover who will be the last Western Conference side to qualify for the semi-final round of the MLS Cup playoffs when the Houston Dynamo host Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium in the third game of that series.
At America First Field in Utah earlier this week, Claret and Cobalt were 20 minutes away from elimination but fought back to claim a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, before winning 5-4 on penalties to force this decisive match.
Match preview
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It was there for the taking, but in the end, the Dynamo could not finish what they started as they have been pushed to the limit in the opening round.
The good news for Ben Olsen's men is that this pivotal match takes place at home, where they have only suffered one defeat in their previous 11 playoff affairs, including a 2-1 victory against Salt Lake in the opening game of this series.
They will carry a seven-match unbeaten run at Shell Energy Stadium versus MLS opponents into this match, one shy of their longest streak without a defeat in Houston from 2019.
Although they were beaten on penalties in game two, Orange Crush have not lost in normal time in their last seven competitive fixtures and have not conceded after 45 minutes since September 23 (2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City).
Houston have usually started matches well throughout the 2023 MLS campaign, scoring first in 18 encounters (regular season and playoffs), but they tend to take their foot off the gas in the latter stages, conceding 10 times in the 80th minute or beyond.
In their entire playoff history, the Dynamo have never been eliminated from a tie when winning the opening match, although, in those previous instances, they were two-leg affairs.
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They rarely dazzle fans with their play on the field, but eliminating Real Salt Lake never seems straightforward, as this scrappy side fought their way back into game two when all looked lost.
Scraping through has become a trademark of this side since Pablo Mastroeni took charge during the 2021 campaign, and it has them on the verge of a second conference semi-final appearance in the last three years.
Salt Lake collected the most away victories in the Western Conference during the regular season (eight), while they fought their way back to earn a positive result in seven MLS encounters this year, including their game two triumph versus the Dynamo.
RSL have never won a playoff contest in Texas, squandering a 2-0 lead in their opening round fixture at Austin FC last season, losing on penalties, before being beaten by the Orange Crush in game one of this series.
Claret and Cobalt have not won a playoff contest when scoring first since 2019 when they defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1, while five of their last six post-season encounters were decided in a shootout or by a single goal.
Only one of their last 10 goals scored in normal time versus an MLS opponent occurred in the opening half, when they played the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-1 draw in mid-October.
Team News
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Houston are expected to be without Tate Schmitt and Ifunanyachi Achara for this match, as they are both dealing with knee injuries.
Amine Bassi was the hero in game one of this series, netting the winner, and it seemed like his opening goal would hold up in match two, but his fortunes took a turn when Salt Lake equalised and then he was the only player to miss from the penalty spot, forcing this deciding game.
Hector Herrera has scored in his last two home games versus RSL, including the opener in their US Open Cup semi-final victory when Adalberto Carrasquilla and Luis Caicedo found the back of the net in extra time as Orange Crush won 3-1 and went on to lift the trophy.
Marcelo Silva missed the previous match for Claret and Cobalt because of a personal matter, Erik Holt sat out with a sore shoulder, Bode Hidalgo was sidelined due to a hamstring strain and Pablo Ruiz was unavailable with a knee injury.
A brilliant free kick from Jefferson Savarino put the home side on level terms in match number two, sending that game into a shootout where Zac MacMath stopped the first shot that he faced, while Chicho Arango, Damir Kreilach, Savarino, Brayan Vera and Diego Luna all converted their spot kicks.
Savarino set up the only RSL goal in that US Open Cup defeat that his side suffered at Houston earlier this year, with Anderson Julio finishing off his nice pass.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar; Artur, Herrera; Carrasquilla, Bassi, Caicedo; Baird
Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Brody, Glad, Vera, Oviedo; Chang, Ojeda, Palacio, Luna; Savarino, Rubin
We say: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Real Salt Lake
The Houston workhorses in midfield should be able to find a way through a resilient RSL side who do not have as much depth or creativity as Orange Crush.
How to watch
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
