Real Salt Lake entered this midweek matchup riding the momentum of a positive result, having defeated rivals Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in front of an energized home crowd in Sandy. This time, LAFC visited for a fixture originally rescheduled from June 25 due to the California club’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. It marked the first meeting between the two sides this week, with the rematch set for Sunday, September 21, in Los Angeles.
All eyes were on the visitors thanks to the arrival of global South Korean superstar Heung Min Son. News of his transfer in early August captured the attention of soccer fans worldwide, drawing even more focus to the MLS. Despite the buzz surrounding the veteran player, RSL supporters were wowed by the brilliance of their own teenage homegrown talent, Zavier Gozo, who continues to prove week after week that his versatility makes him one of the league’s most exciting players.
In the end, the result failed to reflect RSL’s steady improvements this season, as the team fell 4-1 at home. Fortunately, the upcoming quick turnaround offers a chance to learn from Wednesday night’s mistakes and adjust ahead of Sunday’s road test in Los Angeles.
Gozo’s Glorious Goal
LAFC proved to be a tough opponent throughout the match, and RSL needed a spark, one that would come from 18-year-old Zavier Gozo. With the Claret-and-Cobalt trailing 2-0 in the second half, the West Valley City-born RSL Academy product delivered a moment of pure brilliance, electrifying America First Field with one of the most athletic, acrobatic and creative goals the Sandy stadium has ever witnessed.
Gozo dug deep into his bag and, off a deflection from a shot by teammate Noel Caliskan at the top of the 18-yard-box, tracked the ball in the air and delivered a perfectly-timed overhead kick, driving it into the back of the net past World Cup winner and LAFC keeper Hugo Lloris to pull RSL back within one. From inside the stadium, the moment seemed to slow as an inverted Gozo hung in the air before making precise contact, and then euphoria erupted from the stands as the ball hit the back of the net.
The young player’s growth throughout the year - now having started 20 of the Club’s last 22 games - was evident in his performance against one of the Western Conference’s top teams. Every time he touched the ball, the crowd held its breath in anticipation of something miraculous, and the wait was worth it as his aerial pirouette produced a moment few will ever forget.
Not only has he impressed the RSL faithful, but he’s also caught the attention of Marco Mitrović, the head coach of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team for the upcoming 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, which begins on Sept. 29. Along with the opportunity to represent his country on one of the biggest stages, Gozo will also have the chance to show the world the caliber of players the Herriman Academy can produce through hard work and dedication. He won’t be the only RSL product to represent the United States in the U-20 World Cup however, as Real Monarchs star Marcos Zambrano was also selected by Mitrović for the tournament.
Reflecting on his national team selection, Gozo expressed that, “It’s been really cool to be with Marcos (Zambrano) here at RSL, and again with the national team. We expect to represent our fans the best we can, let the world know what Utah is all about, and make the RSL fans proud.”
On a more personal level, he shared: “This is something I’ve been looking forward to for quite awhile. I’m very excited to represent my family, my Club and my country. Obviously, I want to play my best, help the team however they need, score as many goals as I can.”
