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RSL starts life without Morales against Dynamo

May 13, 2011 - 8:07 PM Sandy, UT (Sports Network) - Javier Morales has been one of the key pieces in Real Salt Lake's ascent to becoming one of the best teams in Major League Soccer.

But after suffering a fracture and dislocation in his left ankle because of a challenge from Chivas USA's Marcos Mondaini last weekend, RSL will be without its influential playmaker in midfield for at least four months.

So when the Houston Dynamo visits Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday to face Jason Kreis' side, the hosts will have to find a way to cope without the 31-year-old Morales.

RSL still found a way to beat Chivas, 1-0, last time out, giving the team five wins from its first six MLS games this season, but life without Morales will be an adjustment.

"He's the best player on our team, and one of the best in the league," RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "So it's not only bad for us, it's bad for the league that he's not going to be playing."

In the absence of Morales, players like Andy Williams, Arturo Alvarez, Ned Grabavoy, Will Johnson and Collen Warner will each get the chance to slot into the midfield, but each will have big shoes to fill.

As disappointing as the win over Chivas was because of the injury, the club still managed to extend its record MLS home unbeaten streak to 28 games, and with four of the next five league contests coming at Rio Tinto Stadium, good form at home will be important.

The Houston Dynamo knows what life is like without a star player as striker Brian Ching has started just one game this season because of a number of injuries.

Houston will again be without Ching on Saturday because of plantar fasciitis, but defender Andre Hainault doesn't think the absence of Morales will change Houston's approach too much.

"You have to break down their central midfield as they move the ball well there, so they start picking away at teams," Hainault said. "[Morales being out] doesn't necessarily change the focus. It's just one less thing you have to worry about, but it's not like they're not a good team without him. It doesn't really change much for us."

The Dynamo will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid on Saturday, and will be looking forward to the challenge of snapping the lengthy home unbeaten streak of RSL.

"Our team looks at it as a challenge for us to go in there and put an end to that streak or to put in a good performance and get a good result," said Dynamo forward Cam Weaver. "It's a challenge to a team that if you can break that streak, it's a good thing and that's how we have to view it."