Player Spotlight | Cabral Stands Tall, Guske Debuts in Tense 1-0 Loss at Colorado

By Mickinley Briggs

Following a 3-0 loss to Liga MX Club León earlier this week, RSL returned to MLS play this weekend after qualifying for the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals for the first time in Club history. Real Salt Lake needed a win or draw during the 2026 Rocky Mountain Cup second leg against Colorado, but ultimately suffered a 1-0 loss in the away game. While the result of the match was less than ideal, a bright spot was the Club debut of midfielder Colin Guske, as well as critical saves by Captain and goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, preventing the opponents from finding the net until the 58th minute.

Guske Joins Salt Lake’s Ranks 

In the 72nd minute, newly-acquired Colin Guske entered for Pablo Ruiz and came out of the gate with energy, making his Real Salt Lake debut, and helping the Club push until the final whistle. 

Eight days earlier, the 19-year-old midfielder was acquired from Orlando City for the remainder of the 2026 MLS season. The U.S Youth National Team U-20 star arrived in Utah having secured 16 first-team appearances and four starts with Orlando. Along with his MLS appearances, Guske also has notched 45 matches for MLS NEXT Pro, logging 3,648 minutes, one goal, and four assists, along with being selected for 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star.

Cabral Continues to be Steadfast 

While Colorado ultimately found the win over Salt Lake, the match was not without its shining moments from the Utah roster. The RSL captain returned to the starting XI for a second straight match after seeing his streak of 63 consecutive starts across all competitions since signing with RSL in January 2025 snapped last Saturday in Orlando. 

Cabral has been a cornerstone of the RSL roster for the last 18 months, his resilience showcased during the Rocky Mountain Cup, making critical saves in the first half. The veteran goalkeeper was tested early, as the Rapids’ Hamzat Ojediran sent a right-footed shot from outside the box toward the keeper, Cabral preventing from conversion in the fifth minute, ultimately preserving RSL’s confidence. 

In the 25th minute, Cabral prevented Colorado’s Georgi Minoungou from finding the net, when Minoungou sent a header straight towards goal. Minutes later, Cabral saved another attempt by Minoungou, preventing the opponents from scoring in the 27th minute.

While Cabral’s presence has been felt regularly all year, he has been the foundation of Salt Lake’s defense since he joined the roster. Last year, Cabral was voted RSL Team MVP by his teammates and was the only player to appear in every single match, racking up 3,600 minutes by starting all 40 matches of 2205. Prior to the match last Saturday, the goalkeeper had seen an additional 23 starts, accumulating 2,070 consecutive minutes during the 2026 season. The Brazilian international notched nine clean sheets in 2025, ranking among the top MLS goalkeepers in saves.

Looking Ahead

RSL will now return home to host LAFC in its second matchup against the traditional MLS power this season. The match will take place this Saturday, September 5, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT at America First Field. Tickets are available for purchase here.