MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Monday, September 1, 2025) - Real Salt Lake (1-1-2, 5pts.) claim its first full serving after defeating Rayados de Monterrey (1-1-2, 5pts.) in a dominant display, ending with a 4-0 scoreline. Monday’s match marked the second meeting between the two sides this calendar year, first meeting at Generation adidas Cup, a match in which the Claret-and-Cobalt also surged to victory.
Real Salt Lake got out to a hot start, scoring its first goal of the competition in just the game’s second minute. Moving up the pitch, RSL combined into the final third to find wingback Linkoln Ream on the left flank, then sending a ball into the area. After a goalkeeper deflection, RSL MF Omar Marquez took a touch off his knee before poking it across the line milliseconds before a Monterrey defender attempted a goal-line clearance.
Continuing its attacking presence, RSL Academy applied constant pressure in the final third in search of its second. Despite multiple clear-cut chances, the scoreline remained up 1-0 at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, RSL doubled its lead, capitalizing on a cross from Marquez, who found striker Chase Duke in stride for a clinical tap-in finish to the near post.
Tensions rose after the second goal as Monterrey attempted to claw itself back into the match. Things turned to the worst for LIGA MX side after one of its defenders was given his marching orders after earning his second yellow.
Up a man, RSL doubled its advantage in the final fifteen minutes of play behind captain Antonio Riquelme’s brace. Riquelme first slotted a low roller through traffic to the far post, converting Marquez’s heel flick, a result of a short corner before firing a screamer over the wall for his brace to the near post off a free kick.
Real Salt Lake remain five points behind Group 2 leaders Orlando City SC, who defeated Necaxa 2-0 earlier Monday. With three games remaining, RSL looks for outside help through the remainder of the group stage as it looks to make a run to the final. The Claret-and-Cobalt will next face Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 on Tuesday, kickoff slated for 10:00 am MT, with broadcast available via the LIGA BBVA MX YouTube Page.
Individual Leaders:
Goals: Riquelme: 2 / Marquez: 1 / Duke: 1
Assists: Marquez: 2
Clean Sheets: Kyriazis: 2 / Jarvie: 1
Group 2 Standings: Team (W-L-D) pts
- Orlando City SC (3-0-1) 10pts
- Real Salt Lake (1-1-2) 5pts
- Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (1-1-2) 5pts
- Club Atlético Peñarol: (0-2-2) 2pts
Real Salt Lake Fixtures: Results Italicized
8/28: Club Atlético Peñarol: 0-0
8/29: Orlando City SC: 0-2
8/30: Pumas UNAM: 0-0
9/1: Rayados de Monterrey: 4-0
9/2: Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16
9/3: Santos Laguna
9/5: Necaxa
Real Salt Lake Academy is the official MLS NEXT affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake. After a historic 2024-25 season that saw RSL become the first academy to have a squad win both the Generation adidas Cup and MLS NEXT Cup in the same season, the group now looks to build upon a firm foundation. Leading Major League Soccer in all-time homegrown signings, RSL welcomed Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson, and Gio Villa in January of this year, all RSL Academy products as part of its 42 homegrown signings after inking their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
