RSL DF Bryan Oviedo speaks about MLS Cup Playoff opening series with Houston

After Tuesday's practice, Real Salt Lake fullback Bryan Oviedo spoke with the media about the club's three-game playoff series against the Houston Dynamo, which opens Sunday.

It’s a new season for Real Salt Lake with the advent of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

After clinching the fifth overall seed in the Wester Conference with a 1-0 win at Colorado in the season finale, RSL (14-12-8, 50 points) will open the postseason Sunday, Oct. 29 against No. 4 Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MT and will be available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. But because of the league’s new playoff structure, it’s not do-or-die — at least, not yet — for Salt Lake.

The club will return to America First Field at least one more time, hosting the Dynamo at 7 p.m. MT Monday, Nov. 6.

If the series advances to a Game 3 between the U.S. Open Cup semifinalists, Houston (14-11-9) will host RSL at 2 p.m. MT Nov. 11.

To recap:

• Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 29 | 4 p.m. MT (Shell Energy Stadium, MLS Season Pass)

• Game 2: Monday, Nov. 6 | 7 p.m. MT (America First Field, MLS Season Pass)

• Game 3 (if necessary): Saturday, Nov. 11 | 2 p.m. MT (Shell Energy Stadium, MLS Season Pass)

  

“It’s different than before. But sometimes it’s nice to take things different,” said RSL fullback Bryan Oviedo, the Costa Rican international who played in 25 matches (19 starts) with four assists in 2023. “I hope that we can win the first two games, and don’t have to play the third game. But anything can happen.

“It may be more time or more games. But we know from the start this can happen, and we will be ready for this.”

Listen as Oviedo previews Sunday’s matchup with the Dynamo — a team with which RSL is well acquainted that includes former homegrown striker Corey Baird — in the video below.

“We know a lot about this Houston team,” said Oviedo, whose club is 10-3-6 all-time against the Dynamo on Utah soil and 3-11-5 in Houston. “They proved a lot in the last part of the season. They have really good players with the ball. We know what to expect. It’s going to be a really difficult game, especially away. But we are ready for this. We know it’s going to be a final; we need to be really focused and prepared for the first game. It’s going to be a lot for each team. I think the first game will say a lot about the other games. We need to be ready.”