Real Salt Lake battled to its first draw of the 2025 MLS season, earning a hard-fought 1-1 result on the road on Matchday 12 at FC Dallas, the point earned in most part thanks to another goal from starlet Diego Luna. This result marked RSL's first draw of the 2025 MLS season, breaking a run of five losses and two wins in recent weeks.
The Claret-and-Cobalt found itself in an uphill battle for the final half-hour of the match, playing a man down for the third time this season and a second time against FC Dallas, totaling more than 90 minutes played with 10 men against Dallas this season.
RSL showed resilience by holding its opponent scoreless for the final 30 minutes to preserve the 1-1 draw. The hard-fought battle was a true team effort, anchored by a standout performance from star midfielder Diego Luna, whose leadership and goal kept RSL in the fight. Luna's consistent form continues to be a bright spot for the team as they look to build momentum moving forward.
Moon Man Shining: Luna Continues to Light the Way for RSL
While the match didn’t end in victory, Diego Luna’s impactful performance was yet another reminder of why he’s the undeniable star at the heart of Real Salt Lake’s attack. The 21-year-old was able to continue his impressive goal-scoring streak, marking his fourth goal in the last three matches for RSL and a team m-high seven on the young season, just one shy of his 2024 total.
The squad had an impressive start on the road with Luna’s goal coming in the 24th minute. After a shot in the penalty area by midfielder Diogo Conçalves was deflected into the path of Luna, the 2024 MLS All-Star showed off his incredible ball skills, faking a shot and twisting to his right before spinning back to his left, after deceiving the defense and faking a second shot, Luna placed a beautiful shot just inside the left post, bouncing past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The goal was one of sheer talent and class that allowed Real Salt Lake to take an early lead. With the score equalized early in the second half, Luna continued to impress on the field, finding scoring opportunities and stepping up on the defensive end. When the Utah side was forced to play a man down after another controversial red card, the Moon Man took charge, rallying his team to hold onto the tie and kicking his performance up a notch to make up for the numerical disadvantage.
Diego Luna's goal pushes him further up the ranks of the MLS Golden Boot race, now just one goal shy of tying for first place. With games scheduled for both Wednesday and Saturday this week, there's no doubt Luna will be eager to add to his tally and extend his goal-scoring streak.
Emerging Stars: RSL’s Gozo and Caliskan Making Their Mark
While Luna was a main source of light in Saturday's match, Real Salt Lake is finding its form in other parts of the field as well. Eighteen-year-old winger Zavier Gozo started his third straight game for the Claret-and-Cobalt and was able to make some positive impacts along the sideline, pushing the ball up the field and into goal scoring opportunities.
RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni has continued to voice his pleasure with Gozo on the pitch, noting the young player's growth and composure as he consistently delivers strong performances despite his age.
Injuries to the backline have opened the door for other players to step up, providing opportunities for emerging talent to prove themselves in crucial moments. The versatile second-year man Noel Caliskan made his third career MLS start for RSL Saturday, and proved to be an impactful piece to the back line for RSL. His hard-fought defensive battle caused FC Dallas to make changes in their lineup and strategy going into the second half.
With established stars like Diego Luna leading the way and a growing group of emerging talents rising to the occasion, RSL is shaping a balanced and resilient squad, one that’s not only capable of grinding out results now, but also building a strong foundation for the future.
What’s Next for RSL?
Real Salt Lake return home for the first time in three weeks, hosting the Portland Timbers this Wednesday May 14. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT and tickets can be purchased here.
