Houston Dynamo FC leads the Best of 3 Series 1-0
With their 2-1 win on Sunday, the Houston Dynamo FC have defeated Real Salt Lake in three straight meetings for the second time in club history (2016-17). Part of that run was a 3-0 away win on August 26, one of three wins the Houston Dynamo FC have recorded in 19 all-time matches at Real Salt Lake (D6 L10).
This will be Real Salt Lake’s first home playoff games since a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers in the First Round in 2019. Real Salt Lake has lost only two of its 11 all-time home playoff games (W6 D3) with the last defeat coming over a decade ago, a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders FC in 2012.
The Houston Dynamo Fc have lost only one of its last eight away matches in all competitions (W3 D4), including a 3-0 win at Real Salt Lake in August. The Houston Dynamo FC have picked up six away wins in all competitions in 2023, their most in a calendar year since 2013 (also 6).
Twenty-year old Diego Luna has scored Real Salt Lake’s last three goals in MLS play (including playoffs). Scoring once in each of his last three appearances. Only three players in MLS history have had a run of four straight games (including playoffs) with a goal before turning 21, most recently Daryl Dike for Orlando City SC in 2020.
Hector Herrera’s goal on Sunday was his 22nd MLS goal contribution of the season for Houston (5 goals, 17 assists, including playoffs), equaling Brad Davis’ 2011 season for second-most in team history. Davis also holds the club record for goal contributions in a season (including playoffs) with 23 (8 goals, 15 assists) in 2012.
