What you have to do is make them uncomfortable. ’Cause if they’re feeling good and feeling confident, they can (dominate) you, as any team in this league can. – Jeff Cassar
SANDY — Yura Movsisyan didn’t try and sugarcoat last week’s thrashing at the L.A. Galaxy.
“At the end of the day, we just got beat. We have to admit it, we have to take it on the chin and get past it,” said the Real Salt Lake striker.
In the seemingly never-ending MLS season, redemption is always just a weekend away. For RSL, that opportunity comes this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium against Houston (KMYU, 7:30 p.m.).
Coach Jeff Cassar said it’s no secret what Real Salt Lake must do to get a result a weekend after dropping its first game of 2016.
“What you have to do is make them uncomfortable. ’Cause if they’re feeling good and feeling confident, they can (dominate) you, as any team in this league can. As L.A. did to us. They were comfortable against us, we didn’t make them uncomfortable. That’s part of our goal this week is how are we going to disrupt them and still play our game,” said Cassar.
The Dynamo present an interesting challenge.
On the one hand, with Houston sitting in last place in the Western Conference with just five points in the standings, it should be a pretty straightforward night at the RioT for RSL. On the other hand, back on March 12, the Dynamo throttled West-leading FC Dallas 5-0 by scoring four goals in the opening 27 minutes.
Never mind that Houston is 0-4-1 since that victory — including giving up four goals to the Galaxy in a 4-1 loss on April 15 — Cassar said that FC Dallas win is plenty of evidence about what Houston is capable of this weekend.
Cassar, however, said it’s tough to predict what version of itself Houston might morph into.
“They’ve been shuffling around their lineup a lot. A lot of injuries, some suspensions. … I still think they’re trying to search for exactly the way they want to play,” said Cassar.
“A lot of times we’ll have a really good idea who we’re going to be playing against. This team I’m not sure who’s going to play. Abdoullie (Mansally) might start. David Horst or Agus could play in the back. (Giles) Barnes could be playing out wide, or up top or a No. 10.”
With a recent rash of injuries, Real Salt Lake’s lineup choices seem just as fluid. Who will start at center back, Justen Glad or Jamison Olave? And what about Juan Manuel Martinez? Will he be back in the starting 11 after leaving last week’s match prematurely with an injury? The domino effort with or without Martinez in the lineup could impact several other positions too.
Fortunately for RSL, it appears that Javier Morales and Stephen Obayan will both be back in the starting lineup against Houston, which would be a huge boost to the midfield both offensively and defensively.
Saturday’s match is the last at Rio Tinto Stadium until June 18 as Real Salt Lake will be installing a new grass field during that time.
James Edward is the Deseret News prep editor and Real Salt Lake beat writer. EMAIL: jedward@deseretnews.com