August 2025. Real Salt Lake is battling on all fronts between Leagues Cup and MLS. Two weeks removed from RSL’s last regular-season game - a 2-1 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes - the squad is more-than-ready to return to its surging ways, further asserting itself in the fight for the postseason.
RSL has enjoyed a busy summer, its next challenge is an away clash with the New York Red Bulls - its first road trip since a 1-0 win at Portland on July 16. RBNY is also completing its participation in Leagues Cup 2025, but the Claret-and-Cobalt will enjoy an extra day of rest, with the match scheduled for Sunday instead of the usual Saturday slate to provide more recovery time. RSL closed out its Phase One slate on Wednesday night with a 1-0 victory over Liga MX visitor Querétaro, while the Red Bulls defeated Juárez 5-3 in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 in regulation on Thursday.
The consistent run of form earned by Pablo Mastroeni’s team - unbeaten in nine of its last 10 games since June 14, winning six and drawing three to secure 22 of a possible 30 points over that span - has allowed the fanbase to dream of a glory-filled finish to this MLS season. Currently sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference - in one of the play-in spots for the postseason - the Club’s chances of finishing in the top five are more realistic than ever. The next-man-up mentality instilled by the head coach and his staff has transformed an organization that, not long ago, was stuck in the bottom half of the table.
In this edition of Storylines, we’ll dive into the key topics ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the New York Red Bulls, including each team’s current form and how the playoff race is shaping up for Real Salt Lake.
On the Heels of Leagues Cup 2025
Since July 29, the MLS season has taken a small hiatus as 18 of the 30 teams in the league participate in the third true edition of Leagues Cup. Among the MLS clubs taking part are RSL and Red Bulls, set to square off in a cross-conference matchup this Sunday at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, as league play resumes.
The Utah side had the difficult task of hosting Club América, Atlético San Luis, and Querétaro in an eight-day span at America First Field in Sandy. Despite what some may have expected prior to the start of the competition, RSL proved why its roster and resilience should never be underestimated. The team earned a historic result in its first official match against Club América - winning 3-1 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in the 90’. Shot-stopper Rafael Cabral was the hero of the night, saving not one, not two, but three attempts in the shootout, part of his eight saves overall on the night.
The following fixture against San Luis saw a more confident RSL side, boosted by the result from the opening game. Although the team couldn’t secure the victory, drawing 2-2 in regulation before falling 4-1 in penalties, pivot MF Braian Ojeda shined, netting his first-ever brace in an RSL uniform, just 10 days after his game-winning goal on July 26 against San Jose. After the completion of Phase One, RSL had collected six points in its three matches, winning 1-0 over Queretaro on yet another Ojeda goal, his fourth in a four-game span after scoring just twice in his first 75 matches since Sept., 2022, in Claret-and-Cobalt colors.
Red Bulls, on the other hand, drew its first game against Monterrey, 1-1, before falling 5-3 in penalties. In its next match, it defeated Chivas de Guadalajara, 1-0, setting up an opportunity to advance in the final fixture. Its final opponent was Juárez, and despite a 5-3 penalty shootout win following a 1-1 draw, it was unable to qualify for the next round of Leagues Cup 2025. The performances the Red Bulls showed over the course of the competition could offer an indication of what to expect on Sunday.
Catching Up with NYRB
The Red Bulls have struggled this season. Last year’s MLS runners-up have endured a rough stretch over the past couple of months, winning just once in its last eight MLS games and posting an overall record of 1-4-3 (W-L-T). Currently, it sits 10th in the East with 33 points, outside of playoff qualification.
The organization made key signings over the past year, bringing in talented players such as Swedish midfielder Emil Forsberg and German-born Cameroonian striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The former arrived in 2024 and has asserted himself as an undisputed starter and leader in the team, quickly becoming the team’s captain. This season, he’s been a driving force with a team-high seven assists and nine goals, starting all 24 of his appearances. Up front, Choupo-Moting has led the charge, topping the scoring charts with 13 goals and adding two assists in 24 games. Together, they’ve become the Red Bulls’ most dangerous tandem and pose a serious threat to RSL’s defense.
The last meeting between these clubs came in July 2023, when RSL earned a 3-1 home victory behind a Diego Luna brace and a goal from Jefferson Savarino. To find the Red Bulls’ last win over RSL, you’d have to go back six years to June 2019, when the Utah side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat on the road against the Eastern Conference side at what was then known as Red Bull Arena.
Painting the Playoff Picture
It’s been mentioned several times, but it’s worth restating: Real Salt Lake is now sitting in 8th place in the West, a position that could secure a playoff spot through a play-in game. After the first half of the year, things looked very different. Since the beginning of July, RSL has played eight games, earning a record of 5-1-2 (W-L-T). Additionally, this weekend the club will look to secure back-to-back wins for just the third time this MLS season.
RSL has accumulated 31 points so far this season, sitting seven points behind fourth-place Seattle and home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. Between the two are Austin FC in seventh with 33 points, LAFC in sixth with 36 (and at least two fewer games played than anyone in the West top five as Son arrives soon!), and Portland in fifth with 37 points. With 10 games remaining, RSL’s fate for November and December will be decided down the final stretch, with five of seven at home between August 23 and October 5. A strong finish could propel the club into the top positions in the table.
While looking ahead is the goal, RSL must minimize dropped points from here on out, as teams below are ready to pounce and could overtake them with just one good result. Just as RSL sits seven points behind fourth place, it’s also only seven points clear of the club in 13th. The crucial home win over the Earthquakes on July 26 allowed RSL to leapfrog them in the standings, though only two points separate the sides. Right below RSL are once-bitter rival Colorado Rapids in ninth with 30 points, followed by San Jose in 10th with 29, Houston in 11th with 27, Dallas in 12th with 25, and Sporting KC in 13th with 24. Even though RSL must focus on chasing those above in the standings, it can’t underestimate the teams below, as the race continues to tighten.
Beyond the Red Bulls, RSL’s remaining schedule in the 2025 season includes matchups with Charlotte, Minnesota, Seattle, Sporting KC, LAFC (twice in four days), Austin, and Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado, before closing out the regular season on October 18 with a road clash on Decision Day at St. Louis.
Getting back into the groove of league play won’t be easy, yet the team has shown it’s built for the long haul, pushing until the very end. Don’t miss this cross-conference showdown as Real Salt Lake takes on the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, August 10. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m. MT.
