SAN JOSE, Calif. (ABC4 Sports) – From San Jose, Costa Rica to San Jose, California, Real Salt Lake has not been able to score a goal in this early part of the 2025 season.
After a scoreless draw in the CONCACAF Champions Cup opener against C.S. Herediano, RSL got blown out by the Earthquakes in their MLS opener Saturday night, 4-0.
Real Salt Lake (0-1-0, 0 points, 15th West) succumbed to a second-half onslaught, allowing three goals in a 15-minute period during the second half.
RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni rotated seven players from Wednesday’s scoreless road draw in Costa Rica against Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with defenders Javain Brown, Justen Glad, and Philip Quinton, midfielders Nelson Palacio, Pablo Ruiz, Tyler Wolff and 2024 Young Player of the Year Diego Luna all returning to the starting XI.
RSL enjoyed a mostly positive start, with Luna enjoying a dangerous opportunities early on to test the opposing goalkeeper, but eventually fell behind midway through the first half when San Jose wingback Jamar Ricketts caught the RSL rearguard flat-footed and tucked a glancing ball just inside the far post.
The hosts then doubled their advantage midway through the second period, in the 70th minute, through a set piece, with Brazilian center-half Rodrigues heading home at point-blank range from an inswinging corner.
Two then quickly turned to three, four minutes later, when Ousseni Bouda latched on to a long ball over the top of the RSL defense and finished with a low strike through the legs of goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, who had valiantly made several key saves to keep RSL from letting go of the rope.
In a difficult contest for the visitors, the fourth goal finally arrived courtesy of more unconvincing far-post defending when substitute Vitor Costa de Brito arrived unmarked in the area to finish off a low cutback from a sweeping move.
The result leaves RSL at the bottom of the Western Conference standings following the first round of 34 regular-season matches from the first matchday of the 2025 MLS campaign.
Mastroeni’s men quickly return to action this Wednesday at home for the second leg of its round-one CONCACAF Champions Cup series against Herediano at America First Field. Kickoff for this continental decider is slated for 6:30 PM MT. RSL then kicks off the home portion of its 21st MLS campaign on Saturday, March 1, with kickoff in Sandy slated for 2:30 PM MT.
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