MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Wednesday, September 3, 2025) - Real Salt Lake (2-2-2, 8pts.) suffered a shutout in its penultimate group stage match, a 3-0 loss to Santos Laguna (3-2-1, 10pts.).
Wednesday’s match featured two sides in drastically different states of the 10th annual Torneo Internacional. Following the morning match window, Real Salt Lake was eliminated from title contention after Orlando City SC’s 1-0 win over Club Atlético Peñarol, clinching Group 2 for the Lions. Santos, however, was given a lifeline after Monterrey upset Group 1 leader Necaxa, 2-0.
Aware of its opportunity to claim three points and jump to the top of Group 1, LIGA MX side Santos capitalized off a RSL defensive breakdown early, heading home its first in the game’s third minute.
The Claret-and-Cobalt remained in its defensive half for the majority of the first half, attempting to weather the Santos attacking storm. Los Guerros' attack prevailed, finding its second in the 30th minute to cushion the lead.
Minutes after the break, Santos broke down the Claret-and-Cobalt defense yet again through quick combinations in the final third, before firing a rocket to the near post, for the match’s third and final goal, icing the game.
Real Salt Lake, eliminated from title contention, closes out group play against Necaxa this Friday, Sept. 5, after a much needed day off. Kickoff is slated for 10:00 am 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 (5-0-1) 16pts
- Real Salt Lake (2-2-2) 8pts
- Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (1-4-1) 4pts
- Club Atlético Peñarol: (0-4-2) 2pts
*Clinched Group Title
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: 0-3
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.
