What started as a joke has turned into a rallying cry of sorts for Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup.
Prior to the tournament, defender Andrew Brody mentioned to the team he’s never won a big trophy. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he won something in general.
“I think it was maybe the first round, I said I hadn’t won a big trophy before,” Brody said. “I couldn’t remember the last time I won something. I was called on that day and I told the guys how bad I wanted to win something this year, and so far, we’ve advanced every round in the Open Cup. Maybe if he (head coach Pablo Mastroeni) calls on me tomorrow in training I’ll remind the group of that.”
Brody and RSL won their first two matchups of the Open Cup to force a semifinal contest against Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Houston, with the winner taking on the winner of FC Cincinnati-Inter Miami.
“We’re doing this for Brody,” Mastroeni said with a laugh.
Real Salt Lake is 5-0-6 against Houston in MLS play since 2017, with the two teams’ most recent matchup resulting in a 0-0 tie on May 6 in Houston.
It’d be easy to look ahead to the future with a potential final matchup at home against one of the world’s best in Lionel Messi, who joined Inter Miami in early June, but Real Salt Lake is focused on the present.
“Obviously it’d be nice to host a final, but we know Houston’s gonna be a game,” Brody said. “It’s not an easy place to go and get a result. So, I think the focus has to be on that, but obviously, if we win that, hosting a final at home would be something else.”
Houston is coming off a dominating 5-0 win over Portland on Sunday, which happened a day before the Timbers fired their coach, Giovanni Savarese.
“They’re a fantastic team,” midfielder Jasper Loffelsend said. “… Their attackers are really, really good, really, really dangerous. They have quality players up front and in the back. I mean, it’s the semifinal. Can’t deny they have more than we do, or we have more than they do, we’re both in equal spots and just have to put it 100 percent out there and just fight for the best.”
The humidity in Houston will also play a factor, according to Brody, and he says it’s something that will be tough to battle.
“I think they really embrace their home-field advantage with the heat, especially in the summer,” he said. “We knew how hard that was playing there a few weeks ago when we were able to tie 0-0. It’s never an easy game, but I think it’s about being disciplined early on especially, I saw in their last couple games they’ve scored early.
“So, I think if we can weather the initial storm that’ll help us immensely. They’ve had that belief that at home they can take advantage of the points, but I think we have the belief that we can go and get results on the road.”
RSL will have some rest working in its favor, with its last matchup coming on Aug. 8, a 4-0 loss against LAFC in League’s Cup.
Houston and RSL also play in MLS regular season on Saturday, but with potential hardware on the line, Wednesday’s contest will certainly hold its own weight.
“I think it’s going to be huge,” Mastroeni said. “And not only that but we have a chance to occupy a Champion’s League spot as well — and it depends on a couple other variables as well — but I think it’s a wonderful opportunity.
“We talk about being a club that wants to win trophies, the only thing closer than this is playing the final. I think everyone knows what’s at stake.”
