MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Tuesday, September 2, 2025) - Real Salt Lake (2-1-2, 8pts.) remain alive in the title race with a 3-1 win over Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (1-3-1, 4pts.).
RSL’s U18 Academy group jumped out to an early lead for a second consecutive game, scoring in the sixth minute behind Matteo Zambrano, younger brother of RSL’s USA U20 phenom Marcos Zambrano. Earning possession off the high press, RSL combined atop of the 18 before Chase Duke laid it off to Zambrano, who clinically slotted it home for his first score in the Claret-and-Cobalt.
Both sides exchanged quality chances that hit the woodwork in the first half, Real Salt Lake’s coming in the 18th minute after Chase Duke’s rebound attempt. Crashing the save rebound, a result of an Antonio Riquelme shot, Duke’s attempt found the near post, denying the striker looking for his second goal of the competition. Mexico’s attempt came on a Konstantinos Kyriazis misclaim. Collecting the ball near the six, opting for goal, the opposing striker’s attempt hit the crossbar, nearly equalizing in the 31st minute.
In the final attack of the half, RSL winger Omar Marquez played a low, driven ball across the six, capitalizing on an El Tri deflection for an own goal in the final sequence of the half.
With just under 20 minutes to play, Duke was tripped during his final action of dicing up an El Tri outside back. Inside the area, the official pointed to the spot, a penalty Duke would take. Targeting the bottom left corner, Selección Nacional de México goalkeeper met the penalty, deflecting the ball back into play. Duke, with his rapid reaction, beat everyone to the loose ball and tapped it in for his second.
Selección Nacional de México’s comeback attempt came far too late, capitalizing off of a corner in the final minute of regulation, spoiling Kyriazis’ clean sheet in the waning moments of the match.
Real Salt Lake closed the gap to within two points behind Group 2 leaders Orlando City SC, who play Monterrey Tuesday afternoon. With two 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 Santos Laguna on Wednesday, kickoff is slated for 12:15 pm MT, with broadcast available via the LIGA BBVA MX YouTube Page.
Individual Leaders:
Goals: Riquelme: 2 / Duke: 2 / Marquez: 1
Assists: Marquez: 2 / Duke: 1
Clean Sheets: Kyriazis: 2 / Jarvie: 1
Group 2 Standings: Team (W-L-D) pts
- Orlando City SC (3-0-1) 10pts
- Real Salt Lake (2-1-2) 8pts
- Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (1-3-1) 4pts
- 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: 3-1
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.
