By: Jay Kostal
Real Salt Lake return to America First Field this weekend to host New York City FC with a chance to snap the longest winless run of the five-year Pablo Mastroeni era and climb back above the playoff line in the West. NYCFC is simultaneously looking to snap its six-game run without a win, as it holds onto the ninth and final play-in spot in the East.
This edition of Storylines looks at the returning players for RSL and takes a deeper look into RSL’s strong home form of 2026, despite recent struggles.
Important Reinforcements Return
RSL FW Sergi Solans returns to availability this weekend after missing the midweek Houston trip, out with an illness during Wednesday’s match against the Dynamo. The Spanish-born rookie forward currently leads the Club’s 2026 Golden Boot race with 13 goals across all competitions, including a new RSL rookie record with nine in MLS action, opening his account on March 7 in RSL’s 3-2 victory over Atlanta (incidentally RSL’s last road victory).
Solans’ four-game scoring streak last month started with the 4-0 Leagues Cup victory against Atlante CF. The rookie striker has made the starting spot his own through his dynamic playstyle and finishing ability. During a month that saw him scored in five of six games, ultimately earning a new contract extension, he showcased what made him a first-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Although Solans has now gone three games without scoring against Leon, Colorado and LAFC, his gravity and positioning continues to create multiple opportunities inside the opposition’s penalty area for both himself and his teammates.
Former Real Salt Lake academy player Taylor Booth is expected to be available off the RSL bench for the first time since returning to Utah last week. The Utah native, surely excited to be back home and play in front of the home crowd, returns to the Wasatch Front for the first time since the two-time USMNT and Olympic attacker joined Bayern Munich’s academy in 2019. Spending several seasons in the Netherlands with FC Utrecht, where he scored his first professional hat trick on February 4, 2024, against FC Volendam, Booth will soon be reunited on the field with his younger brother, Zach Booth, who arrived back at RSL in January, and suffered a hamstring injury in mid-August.
This weekend’s match against New York City FC could also mark the long-awaited return of former RSL captain and USMNT January 2024 midfielder Emeka Eneli, who has been out with a knee injury since January, potentially dressing and being added to the bench for the first time since recovering from his surgery.
Winless Drought Continues
Real Salt Lake returned from the World Cup break with an impressive 4-1 friendly victory over Burnley FC. A brilliant League Cup group-stage performance saw RSL finish with seven points and advance to the knockout stage. Despite the success against non-MLS teams, RSL have struggled in MLS regular-season play, with injuries and a constantly-changing lineup contributing to the issue.
In the recent match at Houston, Real Salt Lake saw a season-high 13 players featured on the availability report, yet still managed to keep itself in the game through gritty defensive play and unproven depth. Unfortunately, the Claret-and-Cobalt conceded yet another late goal, dropping points and extending its winless streak to 10 games, the fourth-longest drought in the Club’s 22-year history. The current run marks the longest RSL winless streak since a 12-game winless streak that spanned from September 7, 2016 until April 1, 2017.
Home Form Against New York City FC
Despite the recent struggles, RSL are 7-2-2 (W-L-T) at home in MLS action and 10-2-3 (W-L-T) across all competitions this season at home, recently picking up an important point against LAFC in last Saturday’s outing at America First Field. Real Salt Lake now looks to continue its strong home form against a struggling NYCFC team.
The Eastern Conference side arrives in Utah winless in six matches, posting an 0-3-3 (W-L-T) record in MLS play since being eliminated from Leagues Cup. The Pigeons recently lost 2-1 after conceding a 93rd-minute winner to the New England Revolution at Citi Field on Wednesday, adding to their inconsistency this season, struggling to keep themselves in a playoff spot.
Real Salt Lake have faced off against New York City FC seven times in the past, holding a record of 4-2-1 (W-L-T). The first meeting came back in 2015, when RSL picked up three points with a 2-0 victory over the New York team. The Claret-and-Cobalt then won the next two matches, scoring a total of 10 goals across the first three meetings.
This Saturday’s match will mark the fifth time New York have visited Utah, with RSL previously undefeated against the East Coast team. The Wasatch side has outscored New York 7-2 on aggregate, going 3-0-1 (W-L-T) across those four matches.
The clash between the two playoff hopefuls will take place at America First Field on Saturday in what is expected to be RSL’s 16th consecutive sellout, complete with the halftime “Teddy Bear Toss” as the Club’s annual “Kick Childhood Cancer” tradition continues, with kickoff scheduled at 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at www.rsl.com/tickets/.
RSL Next Match: Teddy Bear Toss September 12
Bring a new stuffed animal to throw on the field at halftime to donate to kids in need.
