Story of the contest
4-0-7 (W-D-L) certainly doesn’t constitute for gratifying reading – neither on paper nor anywhere else – but that’s the reality with which Real Salt Lake must now contend after Saturday night’s latest affairs.
Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s charges slumped to a worrying seventh defeat of the MLS season, and eighth in all competitions, fading away to a 2-1 loss away at conference-topping Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place in both sides’ most contemporary round of domestic action, in a scoreline reversal from the teams’ previously most recent meeting at the end of 2024.
In truth, Saturday might’ve been akin to a non-contest and that, surely still, would be putting it kindly. Mastroeni’s men were battered and bruised on a grueling evening on the West Coast and on another day might’ve been forced to come away with a higher margin of defeat.
Winger Jayden Nelson sent the league leaders on their way 20 minutes in when he scored a brilliant solo effort, dribbling through two opponents before slotting a low effort into the back of the net, in a first half the hosts utterly dominated, before defender Tristan Blackmon bludgeoned a first-time strike into the near post to double Vancouver’s lead midway through the second period.
A few shoots of hope emerged sporadically for RSL across the 90 minutes but, in truth, once the hosts got a grip of the game they never let go, and it meant by the time midfielder Diego Luna’s late penalty rolled over the line in the sixth minute of stoppage time the final result had already been as good as confirmed, save for a final few nervy minutes as Vancouver saw out the one-goal win-advantage.
The defeat places RSL at joint-top for the most losses in the Western Conference (7), at this stage of the season, alongside Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy, and joint-second in the entire division behind only CF Montreal with eight defeats.
Here, our Player Spotlight series discusses some of the most encouraging personnel talking points from a tempestuous night in British Colombia.
Electric Gozo provides bright spot
They say competition breeds success. No one moreso than Mastroeni will be hoping the adage rings true amidst a tight competition for places within his team – and the foremost subject of his current reasoning? Step forward Zavier Gozo.
“There’s a little bit of Thierry Henry in him,” Real Monarchs head coach Mark Lowry enthused about the 18-year-old in a club interview he shared near the start of 2024. On the basis of Saturday night’s performance, it might not be too difficult to see why.
Brave and silky smooth on the ball, direct impressive dribbler, the fearlessness to go at his man time and time again, strong with both feet, teenager... and no we’re not talking about Lamine Yamal.
What do you need when your team is down and up against the odds? A player not afraid to take matters into their own hands to make things happen and grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Bonus points if they’re under 20.
Saturday was only his second-ever professional start – you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was his 50th.
A week ago, Gozo delivered a fine, composed display in hostile territory en route to a 3-1 away victory against San Diego. On Saturday, he continued that encouraging run.
The 18-year-old only needed eight minutes to begin to make his presence known when his tame deflected shot from a shooting opportunity was eventually gobbled up by Yohei Takaoka in goal for Vancouver. It failed to represent the most sweetly struck strike but it was a good judgment of positioning, and an omen of more to come.
Through his 90 minutes on the field, the 18-year-old proved RSL’s most lethal, consistent outfield player and the most likely source of a route to goal for his team. Sharing a pitch with more experienced, established stars, the RSL academy product outshone all those around him with his skill and willingness on the ball as well as his bravery and effectiveness in running at opponents and creating chances occasionally out of very little.
In the 41st minute, an impressive piece of skill and surge of acceleration saw him square up and easily skip past Vancouver defender Tate Johnson down the byline in the penalty box before clipping a lofted ball across to find Alex Katranis for a header at the backpost for what looked like a surefire goal. But the Greek wingback somehow failed to find the back of the net from six yards out with the goal gaping in front of him.
An 18-year-old who plays with the offensive maturity, skill, and fearlessness of a veteran wideman, the West Valley City native also ensured he seldom shirked from his defensive responsibilities, making it a point to track back and double up with defender Justen Glad to try and stifle Daniels.
At the end of the first half, RSL had managed an xG (expected goals) value of 0.44 – concurrently Gozo’s xA (expected assists) figure stood at 0.43.
In the 56th minute, with the scoreline at one-nil, he came close to winning a crucial penalty for the visitors, picking up the ball just inside his own half and embarking on a beguiling, mazy dribble down the right flank, against three opposition players, and through the near-entire length of the opposition half before going down inside the box, prompting the center official to immediately point to the spot. However, the spot kick was ultimately retracted following a subsequent VAR review.
In the 71st minute, squaring up again to Johnson and almost beating him, a deft feint towards the defender’s inside before a late surge to his outside won his side a much-needed corner as RSL searched for a way back into the contest.
Mastroeni himself lauded the young winger’s commitment and application at the end of the night, explaining:
“I think Gozo is doing all the right things. I think having speed on the field makes us a little more dynamic in the attack. He stretched their back line well, his one-v-ones going at the defender created quite a few good crossing opportunities, especially the one where he played it back post to Alex in the first half – that was really good.
“The run he went on to get the PK – that’s top stuff from that position. He’s breaking into the team at a moment where he’s playing with confidence and the defending he does on that side is relentless.
“I think that’s really a superpower of his. He’s right on the cusp of breaking through and either scoring a goal or setting one up. He’s putting himself in great positions and doing all the right things. I’m just really proud of the way he’s coming into the team. He’s been with us in preseason for the last three years. You never know when the moment’s going to come, and he’s really taken advantage of his opportunities and played really well.”
What next for RSL?
Next up for RSL is an away clash with FC Dallas, in the final of three successive away matches, at Toyota Stadium, with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV + / MLS Season Pass.
