Real Salt Lake held strong in many ways this weekend, obtaining a first-half lead at the stroke of halftime, with starlet Diego Luna refusing to concede on a play that could have easily been given up for dead, ultimately providing the forceful banger with his head that proved to be the game-winner later in the fateful sequence.
With determination and grit, combined with flashes of brilliance, RSL has shown what it’s capable of. Saturday’s victory marks not only the end of a long seven-year drought in Houston, but also the commencement of an exciting year ahead. Team chemistry is starting to build and with the momentum swinging in RSL’s favor, the 2025 season looks to be an exciting one.
By securing its first win at Houston in the teams’ last 10 road meetings across multiple competitions, the first since 2018, RSL displayed qualities on both sides of the ball it will need to continue to grow.
Saturday’s contest was truly nail-biter, with both teams presented with opportunities to take home the full three points, but the Claret-and Cobalt held its ground, passing the ball with 83% accuracy.
Now, we’ll dive into two players who scored their first goals of the 2025, ultimately leading the team to a second win in four MLS matches (and six overall) this season, including its first away, at the beginning of a stretch that sees three of five in the road and nine of 15 overall during the next several weeks.
Lightning-Fast Start: Diogo Gonçalves scores 43 seconds in
RSL’s second-year Designated Player found the back of the net, scoring his first goal of 2025 and his third overall in striking fashion. The cross from Captain Emeka Eneli allowed for a perfect one-time touch with power and placement from Diogo Gonçalves, putting RSL ahead just 43 seconds into the match.
Gonçalves joined the squad late last season, bringing a wealth of experience and technical skill to Utah. The Portuguese international with the ability to play any and all of RSL’s four attacking positions is known for his striking ability and was able to show that off against the Dynamo. A turnover in the RSL half allowed for Diego Luna, Ari Piol and Eneli to build forward quickly, in seamless, dynamic fashion. In the final phase, Luna was able to find Eneli on the overlapping run, with RSL’s Cornell-educated leader perfectly placing a throughball from the left side of the penalty box, finding a streaking Gonçalves in the central channel for a right-footed finish past Andrew Tarbell.
The goal was a true testament to the team’s chemistry, with each player connecting seamlessly to create a masterpiece of passing. From the initial build-up to the final finish, every touch was executed with precision. It was a collective effort over a span of 50 yards that showed just how dangerous RSL can be when working in sync. The final shot by Gonçalves ignited the spark RSL needed to prove to itself it could capture the win in Houston.
With just two goals in his short stint with RSL last year, along with Pablo’s challenge this week to each of the 10s, Gonçalves’ score early on in this campaign provides an exciting glimpse at the potent year he can provide for the Claret-and-Cobalt in 2025.
Double Honor: Diego Luna Earns National Team Call-Up and Game-Winning Goal in Same Week
Just this week, the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year discovered he would receive his second call to the U.S. Men’s National Team this year. That news - along with the young man’s decision to ditch the mask protecting his shattered face - brought a massive boost of energy and confidence for Luna against the Dynamo Saturday night.
Luna played a key role in the passing clinic displayed by RSL to create the Gonçalves goal in the first minute, the fourth-fastest RSL tally in 21 seasons. Luna later added his first strike of the season 49+ minutes later, putting RSL ahead, 2-1. Polish winger Dominik Marczuk provided the assist, unleashing a wicked, far-post shot from the right corner of the box. The ball flew perfectly into the head of charging Luna, who placed the ball flawlessly into the back of the net.
It was a goal of pure brilliance. The precision and placement left Dynamo netminder Tarbell with no chance, the header ultimately securing the scoreline for RSL. With the brilliant goal under his belt, hopefully Luna can build on this success as he heads to Los Angeles to join the USMNT for its semifinal match this Thursday at 5 p.m. MT against Panama.
Despite a tough, scoreless second half that saw the home side push hard, RSL stayed focused and resilient, never letting up its defensive effort, determined to hold the lead and the points. The collective teamwork that enabled early success remained intact, RSL fighting to keep the advantage, avoid successive losses and take the improbable three points, building a foundation for 2025 success.
