Midseason Struggles Continue as RSL Falls 1-0 at Colorado

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Sat., Aug. 29, 2026) – Real Salt Lake (8-9-4, 28 points, 10th West / 16th MLS Shield) dropped its fourth straight match on Saturday night, losing 1-0 to its Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids (10-11-1, 31 points, 7th West / 12th MLS Shield) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. With the win, the Rapids retained the Rocky Mountain Cup for a third consecutive season.  

Newcomer Colin Guske made his debut on Saturday, subbing on in the 72nd minute after being acquired on loan from Orlando City SC last week. Playing its ninth match in 30 days, RSL extended its losing streak to four games in all competitions, in addition to extending its winless run in MLS to eight games and its away winless streak to nine games dating back to March 7.

RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni made six personnel changes to the starting XI in addition to one positional shift following Tuesday’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal against Club León. Mastroeni introduced a completely new backline, with Sam Junqua, Juan José Arias and Kobi Henry starting at centerback. Alex Katranis took the left wingback slot after wearing the captain’s armband for the first time last Saturday against Orlando, while U.S. World Cup veteran DeAndre Yedlin moved out to right wingback. In attack, 19-year-old RSL Academy product Aiden Hezarkhani made his 10th start of the 2026 MLS season.

The home side put pressure on the Claret-and-Cobalt in the first half, generating eight total shots compared to RSL’s two. The highlight of the first 45 minutes was the battle between RSL captain Rafael Cabral and Colorado forward Georgi Minoungou, with the Brazilian goalkeeper being called to action on multiple occasions. Returning to the lineup after sitting out RSL’s last MLS game - which ended his 63-game starting streak - Cabral made two crucial saves against Minoungou, getting low to parry away a header in the 25th minute and sliding to deflect a one-on-one shot in the 28th. The interventions kept the game level at 0-0, with neither side able to gain the upper hand before halftime. 

Colorado continued to dominate the game coming out of the break, with the Rapids grabbing the breakthrough goal in the 58th minute. At the corner flag, Youssef Maziz whipped in a cross to the backpost that was finished with a powerful header by an unmarked Reggie Cannon. 

In the 72nd minute, Colin Guske subbed on to make his RSL debut, earning his first minutes with the Club since he was acquired on loan from Orlando City SC just eight days ago. Guske has history with several RSL players, reuniting with Hezarkhani - with whom he played on US Youth National Teams - and Luca Moisa, whom he played against in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game.

The Rapids didn’t let RSL back into the match, maintaining its attacking momentum while its solid defensive line was suffocating. Real Salt Lake was unable to get a single shot on goal all game, ultimately falling 1-0 to the home side on Saturday. 

Following an unsuccessful three-game road trip, Real Salt Lake now returns home to America First Field to host international icon Son Heung-min and Los Angeles Football Club next Saturday, September 5.  Kickoff  is set for 7:30 p.m. MT.

GOAL SCORING SUMMARY: 

COL 1 : 0 RSL

COL: Reggie Cannon (Youssef Maziz) 58’: Maziz crossed the ball from the left corner flag to Cannon, who arrived unmarked at the back post to finish with a header. 

NOTES FROM COL 1 : 0 RSL

• All-time, RSL now holds a 26-11-9 (W-L-T) mark against the Rapids in MLS regular-season play, including a 10-14-6 (W-L-T) mark in the Centennial state. 

• Colorado retains the Rocky Mountain Cup for a third consecutive year after winning in 2024 and drawing in 2025 and 2026. 

• RSL has lost four games in a row across all competitions, last winning at home in August 11 vs FC Juárez in Leagues Cup action.

• RSL is winless in MLS reg. season play dating back to May 16, an eight-game streak. The Club is winless on the road since March 7, an active nine-game span entering Sept. 9 at Houston. 

• MF Colin Guske earned his debut on Saturday, logging 18 minutes in his first appearance for the Claret-and-Cobalt, becoming the 12th debutant this season and all-time RSL player No. 240 in the club’s 22-year history.

• After earning a yellow card in the 61st minute, Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui will miss RSL’s Saturday MLS match against LAFC due to caution accumulation.

LINEUPS:

Real Salt Lake (5-4-1): Rafael Cabral ©; DeAndre Yedlin (Juan Sanabria, 63’), Kobi Henry, Juan Arias, Sam Junqua, Alex Katranis (Saba Lobjanidze, 82’); Aiden Hezarkhani (Diego Luna, 63’), Pablo Ruiz (Colin Guske, 72’), Noel Caliskan, Morgan Guilavogui; Sergi Solans

Subs not used: Lukas Engel, Dominik Marczuk, Mason Stajduhar, Luca Moisa, Lineker Rodrigues

Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni

Colorado Rapids (4-2-3-1): Adam Beaudry, Reggie Cannon, Rob Holding, Loic Williams, Miguel Navarro; Hamzat Ojediran, Wayne Frederick (Josh Atencio, 78’); Youssef Maziz (Donavan Phillip, 71’), Pazten Aaronson, Georgi Minoungou; Rafael Navarro © (Darren Yapi, 90+1’)

Subs not used: Keegan Rosenberry, Alex Harris, Noah Cobb, Kosi Thompson, Nathan Tchoumba, Bryan Dowd, 

Head Coach: Matt Wells

Stats Summary: COL / RSL

Shots: 14 / 4

Shots on Goal: 4 / 0

Saves: 0 / 3

Corner Kicks: 7 / 1

Fouls: 13 / 21

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

COL: Hamzat Ojediran (Yellow Card - 14’)

COL: Rob Holding (Yellow Card - 49’)

RSL: Aiden Hezarkhani (Yellow Card - 53’)

RSL: Morgan Guilavogui (Yellow Card - 61’)

RSL: Colin Guske (Yellow Card - 79’)

RSL: Juan Arias (Yellow Card - 90’)

COL: Miguel Navarro (Yellow Card - 90+2’)