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Real Salt Lake-Dynamo Preview

Jun 19, 2009 - 8:34 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Real Salt Lake (4-6-3) at Houston (8-2-3), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The hottest team in MLS, the Houston Dynamo are on the cusp of setting one franchise record while tying another. A home matchup against Real Salt Lake could help them accomplish both.

The Dynamo attempt to win a sixth consecutive game and remain unbeaten for an 11th on Saturday night when they look to continue their dominance of Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium.

Houston (8-2-3) matched a team record last Saturday with its fifth consecutive win, 3-1 over Dallas. The victory also extended its unbeaten streak to 10, one shy of the team mark of 11 games without a loss from June 7-July 22, 2007. That streak also included the club's only other five-game winning streak, and helped propel Houston to its second consecutive MLS Cup title.

The Dynamo's current streaks have pushed them into a tie with Chivas USA atop the Western Conference. However, they have played two fewer games. Chivas is off from MLS play until July 11 due to its participation in SuperLiga.

Houston hasn't lost since falling 1-0 at D.C. on April 4.

"In these 10 games, we've been great," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "The attitude has been excellent. We try to manage the team as best as we can. Everyone is buying into making sure they work hard for the result for the team."

One player making a strong contribution is Cam Weaver, who scored twice against Dallas after getting an assist in a 1-0 win over Chivas on June 10 - one day after Houston acquired him in a trade from San Jose. The forward had a goal and two assists in nine games - five starts - with the Earthquakes.

Weaver's immediate inclusion in the starting lineup was due to a hamstring injury to Brian Ching, who's been upgraded to probable for Saturday after missing three games. Ching and Stuart Holden are tied for the team lead with four goals.

"When one players steps out another steps in," Weaver said. "When you have that depth it shows."

The Dynamo, who are 5-0-2 at Robertson Stadium this season, are 5-2-2 all-time against Salt Lake (4-6-3), including wins in all four home meetings - the last two by identical 4-3 scores.

RSL is looking to build on last Saturday's 2-0 win at Los Angeles, which snapped a seven-game winless drought (0-4-3). It was ended an 0-5-3 stretch away from home, and was the team's first road victory since beating San Jose 3-2 on Sept. 27.

"A lot of people outside this locker room don't believe in us," said forward Yura Movsisyan, who found the back of the net in the 13th minute against the Galaxy. "But you know what? We believe in ourselves. If we believe we can do it, nobody can stop us."

Movsisyan has scored a goal in each of the last two games after finding the back of the net just once in the previous 11. He had a career-high seven goals last year while helping Salt Lake advance to the conference final, where it fell 1-0 to New York.

RSL might need another strong effort from Movsisyan with club scoring leader Robbie Findley (six goals) listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain after sitting out last weekend's victory.

Movsisyan has scored once in four career games against Houston, with the goal coming on the road last Aug. 16.