Real Salt Lake 1-0 San Jose Earthquakes
- Luna scores seventh goal of the season with stunning drive
- RSL keep consecutive clean sheets for the first time since April
- RSL secure top-four place and playoff home advantage, with a further chance of a Champions Cup spot
Story of the Game: RSL Extend Active Unbeaten Streak
Real Salt Lake extended its current active undefeated run of games with a narrow, but deserved, 1-0 win away against the San Jose Earthquakes, in what was a tight, hard-fought affair, at PayPal Park on Saturday night.
In a game the visitors mostly dominated, midfielder Diego Luna netted what would prove to be the winning goal - a thumping drive from outside the box - 12 minutes from full time as Pablo Mastroeni’s men cemented their position in the Western Conference top-four, thus, securing home-field advantage in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. And bolstered their chances of a possible CONCACAF Champions Cup spot for 2025.
The result also represented the team’s second consecutive clean sheet, and ninth overall of the season, as well as its first successive clean sheet stretch since April 13 and 20, in 0-0 and 4-0 results against Columbus and at Chicago respectively.
Man of the Match: Luna Nets Stunning Winning Goal
On a doubtlessly tense, dour night on the Pacific Coast, and far away from the familiar reassurances a sold-out America First Field might typically confer, RSL’s 2024 All-Star midfielder Diego Luna duly lived up to the connotations of exaltation of his famed moniker, heralding the Claret-and-Cobalt flag sky high in grand opposition to its Silicon Valley opponents.
On his return to the familiar surroundings of his boyhood club, and place of his footballing career genesis, the 21-year-old shone brightly as arguably the team’s best performer on the night in what yet remained an arduous, laborious collective display as Pablo Mastreoni’s men continue to search for their best form heading into the MLS postseason.
For his part, RSL’s diminutive creator-in-chief delivered a confident, composed, and ruthless display culminating in his winning goal late in the second half which guaranteed the visitors all three points and threw the team a lifeline in its pursuit of further greatness and a record-breaking end to the 2024 regular season.
In the 78th minute, and with the threat of full-time looming, midfielder Braian Ojeda assumed possession of the ball high up in the San Jose middle third and played a simple forward pass towards Luna, occupying a central position right outside the hosts’ penalty area. With the threat of an opposing defender behind him, the Bay Area native, in turn, intelligently took a few steps infield and slightly forward to create separation from his opponents before rifling a powerful left-footed effort that flew off the right post and into the back of the net for a truly fabulous goal, and to establish a Claret-and-Cobalt advantage.
The goal represented the 21-year-old’s seventh of the domestic season, to go alongside his 12 assists for a combined total of 19 goal contributions for the year, making it the most prolific campaign of his young professional career.
Interestingly enough, the former El Paso midfielder could well have ended the night with an impressive brace, if things had all gone his way, and deservedly so too. At the start of the game, in the 2nd minute, a long throw into the box from defender Javain Brown ultimately fell to Luna at the back post who met the ball with a ferocious first-time volley, but his confident effort was narrowly saved and pushed over the bar by Daniel - in goal for the hosts on the evening.
“The moon shone as brightly as the stars themselves on the night,” and RSL’s MLS midfield All-Star marveled as a walking, talking, breathing embodiment and living proof of his exalted moniker.
Throughout his time on the pitch, Luna registered a total of 41 successful passes - an accuracy rate of 85 percent, including one key pass, three total shots - two of which were on target, as well as contributing defensively with four successful recoveries, to go with his goal. An impressively complete performance.
Did You Know?
Saturday night’s victory in San Jose means that RSL now need just one more win, in its final game against Vancouver, to establish a new all-time single-season point record of 59 points, surpassing the 57 points accrued back in 2012, whilst a draw in its conclusive game would serve to equal the long-standing record.
RSL, in the 2024 season, have also now earned the second-most road points of all time in franchise history (23), behind only its 2023 campaign (28).
Pablo Matroeni’s men remain in the running for one of the 10 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup spots and could clinch it with a third-place end-of-regular-season Western Conference finish by securing a win in its final game against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
What Comes Next/The Bigger Picture
RSL return to action again for its final game of the regular season, in pursuit of a third-place finish and a Champions Cup spot, at home for the visit of its legendary former captain Damir Kreilach and the Vancouver Whitecaps to America First Field on MLS “Decision Day” on Sat., Oct. 19. Kickoff for the contest is slated for 7 p.m. MT. To access news, schedules, rosters, and more, visit www.RSL.com.
