Real Salt Lake Take a Tough Defeat Away at New York Despite Grabbing an Early Lead
Real Salt Lake returned to the final third of its 2025 regular-season action by facing fellow MLS competitors New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. The Claret-and-Cobalt hoped to carry its momentum from June/July into August, as the Club entered the first to back-to-back east coast road trips unbeaten in nine of its last 10 matches across all competitions, looking to surge past the playoff line heading into the match.
The clash between the two sides had everything, culminating in tensions boiling over in the waning minutes. Both RSL’s Diego Luna and Red Bulls’ Kyle Duncan were shown red cards after a heated altercation. Choupo-Moting took two late penalty shots, one brilliantly saved by Rafael Cabral, while the other proved to be the game-winner.
Gozo Becomes the First RSL Player to Score Away in New York since 2013
The opening goal arrived just three minutes in, Luna picking up his head to survey the field, threading a perfectly-weighted ball between two defenders into the path of striker William Agada. Agada drove toward goal uncontested, as the New York defense struggled to recover in time. He then squared a precise pass to teenage winger Zavier Gozo, who slotted home a beautiful one-time finish through the Red Bull goalkeeper to give the visitors the early lead, RSL striking first yet again, as it has in 18 of 30 matches across all competitions this season.
Gozo continued to torment the New York defense with his second-best opportunity in the first half coming from a quick counterattack. Gozo freed himself with a clever touch, pushing the ball past the Red Bull defender near the midfield line before outpacing the centerback to regain possession. Unfortunately, his final effort was a knuckled shot that went straight into the gloves of the home side’s keeper.
Gozo has done nothing but shine since making his professional debut back on October 14, 2023. The native Utahn winger is another terrific product of the Real Salt Lake Academy who has already broken multiple records throughout the season. His most recent goal made Gozo the first Salt Lake player to score at Sports Illustrated Stadium in MLS regular-season since July 27, 2013.
The goal gave Agada his second assist for Real Salt Lake since arriving in the Beehive State back on April 23 from Sporting Kansas City. The Nigerian striker also assisted Diogo Gonçalves’ goal in the 3-2 victory home against St. Louis City FC. Agada has shown some of the skills that made him such a dangerous goal-scoring threat for Sporting, yet only finding the back of the net on three occasions for the Claret-and-Cobalt since his arrival.
“We have a principle in transition, We want to find Diego and Diogo in those spaces between the lines. It’s a great example of good team defending and taking up a good position defensively will allow us to score goals in transition.” Head coach Pablo Mastroeni commented on how strong defense allowed Real Salt Lake to build its goal.
“I’m just running to give Willie support and he slips me the ball and I put it through the keeper’s legs,” Gozo added on his perspective on the goal.
The Game Within the Game - Rafael Cabral Made Another Late Penalty Save
New York captain Emil Forsberg unleashed a powerful strike that dipped up and over the wall, seemingly destined for the side netting. But Real Salt Lake's Captain Rafa Cabral was equal to the challenge, diving sharply to his right and getting a strong hand to the ball, steering it away from danger.
Red Bulls scorer Choupo-Moting was adjudged to have been brought down in the penalty area after a challenge from Brayan Vera, which sent the Cameroonian striker tumbling to the turf. He placed the ball on the penalty spot, then looked up to see Cabral stationed on the left side of the goal. Choupo-Moting stepped up to attempt a panenka, saved by RSL’s “Iron Man” Cabral, who stood still between the posts.
The Brazilian goalkeeper is no stranger to penalties, having saved three in the shootout win against Club América just eleven days earlier. Though the mind games of a penalty kick usually favor the attacker, Cabral has a way of flipping the script to make it seem as though he holds the upper hand. While the captain won the first mind game, he lost the second, a strike powered into the top right corner of the net for the game-winner.
“Penalty is never easy to save, I could read the first one, the second one he kicked well.” Cabral spoke about the difficulties of penalties.
“When you do so many things moving you create a little bit of doubt in their mind and when the player has doubts they normally kick down the middle.” Expanding on the penalty save made by Cabral and his thought process in the moment.
What’s Next for RSL?
The Claret-and-Cobalt head to Charlotte FC next Saturday, looking to rebound after losing in back-to-back games just 14 times in the 171-game Pablo Mastroeni eraBank of America Stadium to face off against arlotte FC. Kickoff on Aug. 16 is slated for 5:30 PM MT and will be streamed on Apple TV+ via MLS Season Pass.
