On Monday, August 5th, the final game of West 8 in the Leagues Cup will see Real Salt Lake take on the Houston Dynamo at 9 p.m. ET. This match promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with both teams eyeing a spot in the knockout rounds and possibly being the winner of the group.
Salt Lake enters this match with high spirits following a significant victory over Atlas. Despite missing Cristian “Chicho” Arango due to suspension, they managed to secure three crucial points, placing them at the top of the group. Diego Luna and Nelson Palacio stepped up admirably in Arango's absence, taking on the burden and delivering when it mattered most. This win has bolstered their morale, proving they can get the job done even without their key players. Now, they aim to maintain their momentum and secure the top spot in the group.
Dynamo, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their opening match against Atlas. As one of the few MLS teams to lose to a LIGA MX team, they are eager to put that defeat behind them. Currently sitting at the bottom of the group due to that loss, the Dynamo still have a chance to turn things around. With each team still in contention for the knockout stages, a victory in this match could propel them to the top of the group, depending on goal differential and other tiebreakers.
The winner of West 8 will face the winner of West 4 in the next round. Currently, Chicago Fire is the only team eliminated from that group, leaving Deportivo Toluca F.C. and Sporting Kansas City to battle it out. Their match will take place on the same day at the same time.
However, finishing second in West 8 comes with a daunting challenge. The runner-up will have to face Club América, the top team from Mexico for the past 30 years, in the first knockout round. This prospect raises the stakes even higher for both RSL and Houston, as neither team will want to face such a formidable opponent so early in the competition.
A significant team morale boost for Salt Lake is the return of Cristian "Chicho" Arango. The forward, who was competing neck-and-neck with Lionel Messi in goal contributions earlier in the MLS season, is back after serving a four-game suspension for violating the MLS Anti-Harassment Policy. Salt Lake’s head coach Pablo Mastroeni expressed his excitement about Arango’s return, saying, "He's champing at the bit...Getting Chicho back in this moment is really important for the group, a lot like when we got Chicho last year in the way his energy and presence was infectious."
Arango’s return could be the decisive factor for Real Salt Lake, adding firepower to their attack and providing the spark they need to secure a victory. For the Houston Dynamo, this match is an opportunity to regroup and show their resilience behind captain Hector Herrera. With everything on the line, fans can expect an electrifying contest filled with passion, drama, and plenty of goals.
