Real Salt Lake suffered a late 0-1 loss to FC Cincinnati at America First Field, the home side suffering its first loss in six matches since the end of May. Despite several promising chances throughout the game, RSL couldn’t break through as the ball simply refused to hit the back of the net.
RSL entered Saturday’s affair on a five-game unbeaten run, having achieved three consecutive wins against St. Louis, Houston, and Portland. Over the past month, RSL has successfully overcome the adversity it faced during the first half of the season. But this match brought a different kind of challenge: facing Cincinnati, now the Shield leaders in Major League Soccer.
Heading into this bout, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni made a few changes to the XI that grabbed a decisive 1-0 win in Portland on Wednesday. Sam Junqua was replaced by Alex Katranis at the left-back position while Bode Hidalgo made way for Braian Ojeda to take back his starting spot in the midfield as Noel Caliskan returned as the squad's right-back. Fans were glad to welcome Ojeda back into the fold after missing the last game due to a suspension after accumulating five yellow cards. On the offensive side of the ball, only one change was made; Australian striker Ariath Piol earned a spot in the starting XI in favor of William Agada.
Throughout the 90 minutes, one player stuck out on RSL, threatening Cincinnati with their second loss in three games. The fans were eager to have him back after his absence with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and tonight, Diego Luna delivered, showing why he’s already a superstar at 21 years old. In this spotlight, we’ll break down a strong showing from RSL’s most dependable player wearing the Claret-and-Cobalt.
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
During RSL’s five-game unbeaten run, the team found different ways to edge past opponents or grind out positive results. Arguably the biggest challenge was filling the void left by rising star Diego Luna, who had quickly become the club’s leading scorer with eight goals. Since his return, Mastroeni’s men have enjoyed a strong stretch of form, with Luna seamlessly reintegrating into a side that has gained the confidence needed to take on the second half of the MLS season.
In tonight’s match, Luna stood out from his peers, consistently creating space in the attack to put himself and his teammates in strong positions to break the deadlock. The first half posed several challenges for RSL, as Cincinnati controlled the early stages with their possession and fluid ball movement. This forced Luna to drop deeper to support defensively, while also serving as an outlet to spark transitions and increase the tempo moving forward. Despite the tight, congested nature of the opening half, he managed to link up well with Zavier Gozo on the right wing and Piol up top in the striker position.
Luna’s impact was undeniable throughout the match, as he emerged as the most dangerous player on the field, particularly in the second half when he created multiple goal-scoring opportunities that were ultimately denied by Cincinnati’s goalkeeper. Off the ball, he made smart runs into space and consistently communicated with his teammates to help them move into better positions. On the ball, he was nearly unstoppable, often leaving defenders behind with his quick footwork. In the final minutes, Luna orchestrated a brilliant play, dribbling past multiple defenders who lunged the wrong way before slipping the ball into the box, though the team was unable to capitalize on the chance.
The numbers also reflected Luna’s influence on the match. He led all attackers in passing, completing 40 passes at nearly 90% accuracy. He also recorded three shots on target and two key passes in a game where RSL created enough chances to earn the win and take all three points.
Cincinnati’s late goal may have ended RSL’s five-game unbeaten run, but the match once again showed that this team can go toe-to-toe with any opponent in the league. As long as RSL’s MLS All-Star continues his electric form, the ceiling remains high for RSL this season.
