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Real Salt Lake-Dynamo Preview

Sep 18, 2009 - 7:43 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Real Salt Lake (9-9-7) at Houston (11-8-7), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Houston Dynamo lost their lead in the chase for the Supporters' Shield with another loss last weekend.

Not owning the league's best record could be the least of their concerns, as they might end up out of the playoffs altogether if this slump continues.

The Western Conference-leading Dynamo look to bounce back from one of their most disappointing defeats and avoid their worst league losing streak in more than two years Saturday night when they host Real Salt Lake.

Houston (11-8-7) seemed like a lock to make the playoffs two months ago, but that's not the case anymore.

The Dynamo are winless in four straight and are 3-6-4 since June 20 after winning eight of nine. They've scored only two goals in their last four MLS matches and are in danger of losing three in a row for the first time since May 16-26, 2007.

Despite all these struggles, Houston is still atop the West, but four teams are right on its heels within four points.

"We're fighting for points. We've got 40 points but we want to get ahead of the group. It's important to create a gap between the teams behind us," defender Geoff Cameron told the Dynamo's official Web site after Sunday's 2-1 loss to East-leading Columbus.

Cameron was in the middle of a controversial call in the final minutes of Sunday's defeat, which allowed the Crew to move ahead of Houston for the best record in the league.

After the Dynamo's Cam Weaver scored in the 80th minute to tie the game at 1, referee Jorge Gonzalez called a penalty on Cameron for knocking over Crew forward Alejandro Moreno in the penalty box in the final moments of regular time.

Columbus' Eddie Gaven scored on the penalty kick and several Dynamo players confronted Gonzalez following the match as the Crew celebrated.

"These points all matter," said Brian Ching, who leads Houston with seven goals. "For it, in our eyes, to be unfairly taken away from you, it's not hard to have that emotion bubble over."

Points also are important for Real Salt Lake (9-9-7), which is trying to make a last push for the playoffs.

Salt Lake is unbeaten in its last three games (2-0-1), but to have any chance for a postseason berth it will need to play well on the road - something it has struggled to do.

RSL plays three of its final five games on the road and is 2-8-2 away from Salt Lake City this season.

"It's do or die at this point on the road," defender Tony Beltran told the team's official Web site following last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chicago. "We know we can do it, so we'll go out there and give it our best. We got nothing to lose."

RSL played the Dynamo to a 1-1 draw in Houston on June 20 and to a scoreless tie in Salt Lake City on Aug. 15.