Real Salt Lake battled back once again, earning a spirited 1-1 draw against 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs first-round opponents Minnesota United in a feisty, resolute encounter in the team’s second preseason game of 2025 in Santa Barbara on Wednesday afternoon.
Substitute Forster Ajago found the back of the net in the 90th minute of a 120-minute game, cancelling out Joaquin Pereyra’s early 15th-minute opener for Minnesota as Pablo Mastroeni’s charges were once again forced to settle for a draw, their second in as many early preseason scrimmages over the last five days, to wrap up their Santa Barbara stanza.
Following a 2-2 draw against New York City in the team’s prior outing, RSL came into Wednesday’s contest looking to continue the early-season development, with U.S. National Team selection Emeka Eneli back in the mix, breathing more life into its preseason campaign. Mastroeni’s men, however, fell behind against the run of play only a quarter of an hour in, as Minnesota attacker Pereyra got the better of new goalkeeper signing Max Kerkvliet from close range in only the 15th minute.
The Claret and Cobalt continued to dominate the majority of proceedings despite falling behind but struggled to break through a staunch, miserly Minnesota defensive block seemingly content to sit back for large periods, of the first half especially, and soak up their opponents’ pressure – much like their approach during the last meeting between both sides in Major League Soccer near the end of 2024.
In a combative contest, defender Justen Glad came near closest nearly 40 minutes in when he let fly with a speculative effort from distance, but his shot could only sail calmly into the waiting gloves of the opposition goalkeeper.
With goals few and far to come by, RSL’s second group upped the ante midway through the second sixty minutes, piling on the pressure and were finally rewarded when former Nashville SC striker Ajago reacted quickest in the box to a one-time pass from Bode Hidalgo into the six-yard area, lofting an effort over the reach of the Minnesota goalkeeper and into the net to guarantee a share of the spoils.
Here, “The Debrief” breaks down key talking points from Wednesday’s Santa Barbara finale.
Tireless Ajago Shows Promise
Forster Ajago – the big man with the big goal.
No Chicho? No problem. Have no fear, Forster Ajago is here! Or at least that’s how RSL’s newest forward recruit will want you to feel anyway. This author, for one, heartily concurs.
Much of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s headlines in recent weeks have been dominated by news of the departure of former captain Chicho Arango to the San Jose Earthquakes at the start of the year, in the aftermath of a season where the Colombian forward found the net 17 times in 30 total appearances across all competitions on the Wasatch Front.
It beggared belief to some, and even more astonishingly so to others. Chicho represented a symbol of the team’s groundbreaking 2024 campaign, but now – a relic of days past. And in Ajago, the club hopes to have found its pathway towards a brighter future, or at least part of it, anyway, and on the basis of Wednesday’s display, it’s not hard to see why.
Chief Soccer Officer Kurt Schmid was particular, during the signing’s announcement, in his assessment and verdict of a player RSL had been following since his college career, citing “his size, speed, and incredible work rate up top” as some of the player’s best qualities and values the club was looking for in a new striker.
Head coach Mastroeni was also effusive in his media day praise of his new acquisition, highlighting the striker’s work ethic and seamless compatibility within the team’s tactical game plan. His striker, on Wednesday, proved his head coach’s words right and true to every grain.
Introduced as part of a new XI at the start of the second half in a laborious, difficult contest, Ajago provided an industrious, hardworking display up front as the forward focal point of the team’s offensive and general play throughout the second 60 minutes. The former Nashville striker is also known for having an instinctive predatory sense in front of goal. That, in particular, would eventually come to the fore as the game wore on.
With the team a goal down and nearly out, and fighting for an equalizer, Ajago’s endeavor and dedication to the cause would be duly, and justly, rewarded late on. Displaying a lethal striker’s instinct, in the 90th minute of a 120-minute setup, the 23-year-old reacted quickly to burst free of his marker in the penalty box and get on the end of a ball from teammate Hidalgo, before confidently arrowing a powerful chipped effort over the keeper and into the net.
It was a well-deserved strike as the icing on the cake of a tireless, efficient performance and the striker came close again to scoring a second in the final 15 minutes, when he rose to connect to a teammate’s cross with a mighty header, but his effort this time flew agonizingly wide off the goal.
An encouraging showing and a pure, lethal striker’s finish subsequently earned him the further reward of the Player of the Day belt from Mastroeni, who will no doubt be excited about the potential of his new forward man.
Ruiz Gets Consecutive Runout
In what will surely constitute a source of joy and relief for RSL fans across the state, veteran RSL midfielder Pablo Ruiz marked his second consecutive game in six days playing back from an injury. RSL’s dual Argentine/Chilean midfield stalwart suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear last March in training, ruling him out for the remaining 36 games and the entirety of the 2024 campaign, Ruiz appearing in just three games in late February only seven months after the non-contact meniscus tear ended his 2023 season in early August of that year, representing the first of two major injuries in as many years.
Following months of effective treatment and careful rehabilitation, the 26-year-old made his long-awaited return to the field in last Friday's 2-2 draw with New York City, starting and lasting the entire first 45 minutes, before being handed a second straight start, and full 60-minute first half (as had been pre-arranged) in Wednesday’s match against Minnesota United.
The former San Luis midfielder delivered a tidy, efficient display against NYCFC, helping Mastroeni’s men dominate the majority of proceedings throughout the first half before replicating his performance against the Loons alongside Paraguayan Braian Ojeda as RSL once again dictated play for most of the first half but this time struggled to find the back of the net.
Ruiz’s return will surely serve as just cause for excitement and optimism within the team training camp, and rightly so, and the Argentine’s ability to operate in various midfield positions will also provide much food for thought for Mastroeni and his coaching staff as competition for places begin to heat up ahead of the competitive season restart on February 19th.
Player competition for places, however, is always a positive sign and indicative of consistent, successful teams, and Mastroeni will certainly be hoping that rings true for his side as the commencement of the campaign gradually draws nearer.
What’s Next for RSL?
The team returns to preseason action next Wednesday, February 5, against St. Louis CITY SC in the first of three games at the preseason Coachella Valley Invitational series. Kickoff is at 11:00 a.m. MT, with the game streaming LIVE on www.RSL.com and the Club’s YouTube channel.
