The MLS Week 22 fixture between Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo kicks off on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. Scheduled for 10:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM PT, this Western Conference showdown features two playoff hopefuls riding high after dramatic wins. With both teams surging in form and separated by just a few points, this matchup could be a pivotal moment in the race for postseason qualification.
Team Form & Standings
Real Salt Lake
Position: 10th in Western Conference (22 points)
Last 5 Matches: W–D–W–L–D
Home Record: Back-to-back wins at America First Field
Goals Scored: 22 Goals Conceded: 28
After a rough stretch, Real Salt Lake has picked up 7 of the last 9 points, including a thrilling 3–2 win over St. Louis City. Coach Pablo Mastroeni has reinvigorated the squad with tactical tweaks and youth integration. The Claret and Cobalt are now just four points shy of the playoff line, and a win here could cut that gap to one.
Houston Dynamo
Position: 8th in Western Conference (26 points)
Last 5 Matches: W–W–L–L–L
Away Record: 3W–2D–5L
Goals Scored: 29 Goals Conceded: 34
Houston Dynamo staged a 4–3 comeback win over San Diego FC, with Ezequiel Ponce scoring twice, including a 100th-minute winner. Coach Ben Olsen has emphasized resilience, but defensive frailty remains a concern. With tough fixtures against Vancouver and Philadelphia looming, Houston needs points to stay in the playoff mix.
Predicted Lineups & Key Players
Real Salt Lake (Coach: Pablo Mastroeni)
Predicted XI: Cabral; Caliskan, Glad, Junqua, Katranis; Ruiz, Palacio; Gonçalves, Gozo, Russell; Agada
Key Absences: Tyler Wolff, Javain Brown (knee), Zac MacMath (back), Emeka Eneli (foot)
Player to Watch: Diego Luna – 8 goals this season; creative spark and All-Star caliber talent
Houston Dynamo (Coach: Ben Olsen)
Predicted XI: Bond; Escobar, Bartlow, Ortiz, Andrade; Ennali, Artur, Raines; Bassi, Ponce, Lingr
Key Absences: Erik Sviatchenko (muscle), Nelson Quinones, Andrew Tarbell (knee)
Player to Watch: Ezequiel Ponce – 7 goals in 2025; clutch scorer with growing influence
Tactical Matchup & Betting Trends
Real Salt Lake Strengths: Fast starts, home-field momentum, midfield creativity
Houston Dynamo Strengths: Comeback mentality, attacking depth, set-piece threat
Betting Tip: The last six meetings between these sides have been evenly split (3 wins each), but RSL won the most recent clash 2–1 in March. With both teams averaging over 2.5 goals per match, expect a goal-heavy thriller.
Match Details
Fixture: Real Salt Lake vs Houston Dynamo
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2025
Time: 10:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM PT
Venue: America First Field, Sandy, UT
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
MATCH ODDS
Real Salt Lake + 100 Draw + 250 Houston Dynamo FC + 240
Over 2.5 – 135 Under 2.5 + 105
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, July 11, 2025
