By Jay Kostal
First MLS Goal for Lineker Rodrigues
Tuesday night witnessed an historic moment for newly-signed RSL forward Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos, as veteran DeAndre Yedlin pulled the ball back to the top of the six-yard box and set up the well-positioned man known simply as “Lineker” to fire in a left-footed finish. Rodrigues, who recently signed his first professional contract, can now add his first RSL goal to his resume, providing the dagger in a spirited 3-0 RSL home victory against FC Juárez.
Lineker had nearly scored earlier in the second half, as his beautiful left-footed strike drifted toward the far post. The ball unfortunately bounced back off the post into the hands of the Juárez goalkeeper, who was relieved to safely secure the loose ball.
Since being drafted in the first round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft out of Marshall, Rodrigues has shined in his first season for Mark Lowry’s Real Monarchs, with seven goals and two assists in 19 MLS Next Pro appearances since last August. RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni gave the young Brazilian-born forward his first MLS appearance back on May 23 of this year in a 1-1 draw away at Minnesota, with Lineker’s first MLS start coming August 1 at St. Louis.
“Honestly I don’t even remember because everything was happening so fast,” Rodrigues reflected back on his goal. “To be honest, I’m just glad it went in and it hit the back of the net, I was kind of hesitant at first.”
Sergi Solans Scores in Back-to-Back Games
Early in the second half, Real Salt Lake was searching for another goal, as the ball made its way to the feet of Noel Caliskan. The RSL Academy midfielder quickly picked up his eyes to spot the run of Spanish rookie Sergi Solans, who was darting into the penalty area. Solans made a quick right-footed spin to shake off the defender glued to his back, before calmly chipping the ball over the Juárez goalkeeper with his left foot.
Solans has made his mark during this Leagues Cup, with the young Oregon State / UCLA forward scoring three goals in his four August matches to bring his 2026 tally to 11 across all competitions. Leading the race for the Club’s Golden Boot, the 22-year-old forward has cemented himself as one of RSL’s brightest rising stars.
Solans fought his way into the starting lineup after capitalizing on the opportunity presented by Victor Olatunji’s fluky preseason eye injury. Bringing a precociously polished presence to the attack, Solans has shown an ability to remain composed in situations where others might panic. A versatile attacking option with a keen eye for goal, Solans showcased what makes him such a dangerous player to the opponents, finding the back of the net in a variety of different ways.
What’s Next
RSL return to regular-season play this Saturday, August 15, for its fourth of five home matches in a 15-day span, hosting West rivals Minnesota United. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT, with tickets available to purchase at www.rsl.com/tickets/
RSL Next Match: 8/15 @ America First Field
Wear black! RSL takes on Minnesota United FC at home in the first dark mode match of the season! Secure your seats for an unforgettable match at America First Field.
