Real Salt Lake wrapped up its Leagues Cup 2025 campaign with a 1-0 win over Liga MX side Querétaro on Wednesday night. Although the team fell short of advancing to the knockout stages, it remained unbeaten in regulation throughout the tournament—its only loss coming in a penalty shootout against Atlético San Luis, technically recorded as a draw in the all-time annals of history. On the field, the Claret-and-Cobalt players reaffirmed what fans have seen unfolding in recent months: the transformation of a once-struggling squad into a legitimate, cohesive contender as the final stretch of the MLS season approaches.
For the second consecutive match and the fourth time in the last four games, Paraguayan midfielder Braian Ojeda found the back of the net, delivering an overall brilliant performance in the heart of the pitch in tandem with Emeka Eneli. Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni has employed various combinations in the midfield including metronome Pablo Ruiz over the past couple of weeks, and so far all have performed at a high level, ultimately making the coach’s decision difficult regarding which players he will choose to start in the upcoming league games.
Wednesday night’s win also gave the Royal Riot a first look at RSL’s newly-signed Designated Player, forward Rwan Cruz in the Claret-and-Cobalt. His limited game time was enough to showcase the talent RSL has added to its roster, which could prove crucial in the Club’s push for a playoff spot over the final 10 games of the season.
In this spotlight, we’ll highlight the midfield performance in the Leagues Cup victory over Querétaro, as well as RSL’s newest addition in the attack.
Dynamic Duo Ojeda and Eneli Dominate Midfield
RSL’s midfield played one of its best games so far this season. For most of the 90 minutes, ‘Los Gallos Blancos’ were kept in check, unable to gain possession and often forced to defend deep in their own half, while hoping for a counterattack. In just the first half, RSL enjoyed 71% possession compared to its opponents’ 29%. Additionally, it completed 311 passes to the Mexican side’s 91, further demonstrating its dominance over its rivals.
To make matters worse for the visitors, at the 32-minute mark, Ojeda received a pass from Sam Junqua near the top-left corner of the 18-yard box and curled a perfectly-weighted shot into the far top-right corner of the net, giving the home team a 1-0 lead. In this game, he was less involved in defensive duties and more focused on joining the attack, making himself an option and getting in behind defenders. The Paraguayan international even noted in the post-game that this shift is one reason he's been seeing more goal-scoring opportunities in recent weeks and hopes to continue this run of form into league play. The 25-year-old played the entire game, posting strong numbers, including 93% passing accuracy on 69 passes.
Eneli, on the other hand, started his third game since returning from an injury that sidelined him for an extended seven-week period and played a major role in the midfield’s superiority until he was substituted in the 65th minute. Acting in his usual role as a pivot, he adds structure to the team on both offense and defense. As fans are accustomed, Eneli is a high-IQ player who makes calculated decisions that set him apart from most players in the league. This game was a prime example of his abilities: changing the tempo when the match required it, employing patience to allow the team to re-organize itself, and feeding his teammates in the attack to create promising scoring opportunities. RSL will greatly benefit from this version of Eneli as it heads into the crucial closing third of the season.
With Ojeda and Eneli spearheading the midfield, RSL recorded 659 passes, the most it’s completed in a single game this season. The team also held nearly 66% possession, its second-highest mark in any match this year.
Rwan Cruz Debuts in Sandy
RSL fans have plenty to be excited about, from the team’s evolution to its recent results. However, one factor that could overshadow both is the arrival of the club’s most recent acquisition, Rwan Cruz. The Brazilian forward - pronounced “JUAN” - was announced as RSL’s latest addition on August 1, and made his official debut just five days later in the final Phase One match against Querétaro on Wednesday night.
Cruz came on for Diego Luna to play the final 25 minutes of the match and immediately won over the fanbase. Every time he touched the ball, the stadium erupted with applause and cheers, with fans on the edge of their seats eager to see what he would do. His motivation was clear as he called for the ball and communicated with teammates to create chances in the final third. Although he didn’t make a significant impact on the match, supporters recognized that RSL had brought in a talented player who will bring them plenty of joy in the near future.
On loan from Brazilian Série A side Botafogo, Cruz was signed to a one-year deal that keeps him at the club until June 2026, with an option to extend through the 2026 season. The player brings valuable experience from his time in Europe and Brazil, and expectations for his success at the club are sky-high.
The next opportunity for fans to see him in action will be this Sunday, when Real Salt Lake travels to New Jersey to take on the NY Red Bulls. Kickoff is set for 4:00 MT, and can be viewed as always via Apple TV+ / MLS Season Pass.
