Best of 3 Series tied at 1-1
The Houston Dynamo FC are unbeaten in five meetings with Real Salt Lake in all competitions this year (W3 D2, including a penalty shoot-out loss on Monday). The Houston Dynamo FC has only one longer unbeaten run against Real Salt Lake in the club’s history, going eight straight without defeat (W5 D3) from 2007-10.
The Houston Dynamo FC has lost only one of its 15 matches in all competitions since returning from the Leagues Cup break (W9 D5, including a penalty shoot-out loss on Monday). That run includes four matches against Real Salt Lake, winning three of those matches.
Real Salt Lake has totaled 11 away wins in all competitions this year (D4, L8), four more than any other calendar year in club history (7 in 2012 and 2013). The only team in MLS history to win more away matches (excluding breakaway shootouts) in a single calendar year was the Los Angeles Galaxy (13) in 1998.
Amine Bassi has scored in each of the first two games of the First Round series against Real Salt Lake, his first two career playoff matches. Only two players in MLS history have scored in each of their first three postseason matches: Raul Ruidiaz in 2018-19 and Roy Lassiter (first 4) in 1996.
Jefferson Savarino’s direct free-kick equalizer on Monday was Real Salt Lake’s fourth direct free-kick goal of the season after having not scored one since 2018. Real Salt Lake’s four direct free-kick goals are the most by any team this MLS season (including playoffs).
