Real Salt Lake snapped its two-game losing streak, earning its first point since returning from the World Cup break with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against St. Louis City SC. The Claret-and-Cobalt delivered a disciplined defensive performance and appeared poised to claim all three points, but were ultimately unable to hold on to a late 1-0 lead in a difficult road environment.
Seventh Goal from Sergi Solans Surges Into Golden Boot Lead
Real Salt Lake were mired in a gritty deadlock with St. Louis City as both teams struggled to find the opening goal, until halftime substitute Saba Lobjanidze created the best chance of the game. The Georgian forward slipped a clever ball into the path of an onrushing Sergi Solans, who dribbled past the goalkeeper for an easy finish into a wide open net. The goal moved Solans into sole possession of Real Salt Lake's Golden Boot lead with his seventh goal of the season, one more than 19-year-old Utah native and MLS All-Star Zavier Gozo.
Since making his RSL debut on February 21, 2026, Solans has steadily established himself within the squad. His strong performances have earned the trust of Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, who has now handed the young striker his fifth consecutive start. The impact provided by the young Spanish striker has been immediate, with Solans scoring the opening goal in RSL’s first road victory against Atlanta United on March 7, 2026.
Solans has done more than find the back of the net this season. In addition to his goals, the young striker has showcased his vision and unselfishness by contributing three assists this MLS season. His first assist came in one of his best games for the Claret-and-Cobalt, as he won Man of the Match honors against San Diego FC at home back on April 18, 2026. Scoring the second goal of the match in the sixth minute, finishing the game-winning goal, and assisting the fourth as RSL won 4-2.. Solans undoubtedly shined in that match, as he had the most touches in the opposition’s box with seven and most total shots with five.
Saba Lobjanidze Assists for the Second Time in Three Matches
Making his presence known with his second assist in three matches, Lobjanidze has shown off what makes him a troublesome forward for opposing defenses to contain. The St. Louis match saw a shift in momentum during the second half, as the Georgian forward gave his new team some much-needed composure in the middle of the field. Controlling the ball with bursting, forward runs and deceptive dribbling skills that had the CITY defenders struggling to take the ball away.
Lobjanidze's quick feet and creative playmaking weren't the only qualities he displayed throughout the match. The MLS veteran also used his experience to find dangerous positions in the attacking third. In the moments leading up to the goal, he took up a dangerous position near the top of the penalty area, as the home team's defenders lost track of the RSL forward, leaving him unmarked between the lines.
“Its his individual quality that got us through,” Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni commented on Lobjanidze’s impact coming off the bench. “Brave in the moment, finding a lot of passes that others might not, facing the goal, getting the right passes through the middle or wide.”
“You never know when your opportunity will come next and you have to be ready to take the chance when the opportunity presents itself,” Mastroeni said poat-game, regarding the chance of seeing more minutes for Lobjanidze in Leagues Cup. “A great opportunity and a chance for everyone at the Club to get involved in the upcoming matches.”
What’s Next
Real Salt Lake returns home to face Liga MX power Tigra UANL in the first 2026 Leagues Cup match on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the first of five RSL home matches in 15 days at America First Field. Tickets for all matches are available at www.rsl.com/tickets.
RSL Next Match: 8/4 @ America First Field
RSL takes on Tigres in the Leagues Cup! Secure your seats for an unforgettable match at America First Field.
