Thursday, May 14, 2026
After falling to FC Dallas in Texas on Saturday, Real Salt Lake was looking to rebound from the loss, stemming the tide that saw the Utah Club fall in three of its last four matches. Midweek, all eyes turned to America First Field in Sandy as Pablo Mastroeni’s side hosted Houston in the second game of a rare three-match week. Striving for home dominance, RSL achieved a well-earned 3-0 victory over the Dynamo, logging a 12th consecutive sellout. The win was achieved through goalkeeper Rafael Cabral making key saves in the first half, and Zavier Gozo’s first career brace in the second half.
Wall of Cabral
Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral has consistently made Utah a fortress, and Wednesday night was no different with his netminding in the first half.
Early in the game, Cabral set the tone, making a crucial save in the 13th minute after a Houston breakaway, diving for the ball and preventing the opposition from scoring first.
Cabral made multiple saves early in the match, but the most notable came in the 39th minute, when the RSL Captain made back-to-back saves on goal. Cabral blocked a shot from the left, before it rebounded back and he tipped a second attempt over the bar, preventing Houston from taking the lead.
The Brazilian goalkeeper has played the full 90 minutes of every match across the last two seasons, and continued to maintain his “Iron Man” status on Wednesday, protecting the net for the entirety of the match. The game also celebrates Cabral’s 52nd consecutive start with RSL, having signed with the club during the 2025 preseason and playing every minute of every match since.
Cabral’s contribution to the team is undisputed, earning his second clean sheet in the last three games, as he continues to be a cornerstone of RSL’s defense. The Captain not only provides saves, but also leadership and encouragement as a seasoned veteran whose global career has seen success across both South America and Europe.
Gozo Goes for a Brace
Despite a scoreless first half, the Claret-and-Cobalt were not deterred, coming out of the locker room with resolve for the second stanza.
After an early second-half throw-in from right back DeAndre Yedlin was notched as a Houston own goal, momentum shifted for the team. In the 57th minute, Yedlin took a looping pass from Cabral and dribbled 70 yards upfield, finally playing a deft cross to Gozo, who beat the ‘keeper for his first goal of the night, doubling the score. The Utah-born attacker celebrated the goal with another backflip for the Riot, mirroring the celebration former RSL player and current executive Jason Kreis famously performed after scoring during his own record-setting MLS playing days.
Just minutes later, after receiving the ball from Sam Junqua, midfielder Stijn Spierings provided a pass to Gozo to slice open the Dynamo resistance, Gozo taking a shot from the left side to the far post, netting his second of the night.
The second-half strikes recorded the first brace of Gozo’s professional career, making him the youngest player in RSL history (19 years, 52 days) to score twice in a single match, breaking Diego Luna’s three-year-old mark (19 years, 311 days). Wednesday night’s match also marked another major milestone for Gozo, who has played 1,055 of a possible 1,080 minutes this season, second only to Cabral’s perfect mark. The attacker has been a consistent force for the team, tallying five goals and four assists so far this season, while helping the Claret-and-Cobalt improve to six home wins in seven games, the return of the Riot powering RSL’s rise to fourth place in the West.
Looking Ahead
Real Salt Lake will now host the final game of a three-match week when it hosts Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids at America First Field in Sandy this Saturday, May 16. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT with limited tickets available for purchase HERE.
