Winless in four straight MLS matches, Real Salt Lake are sinking dangerously close to the playoff cutline in the Western Conference.
And RSL’s pursuit of a sixth consecutive postseason berth has become more challenging with the loss of dynamic prodigy Zavier Gozo, who signed with Crystal Palace of the English Premier League for a club-record $15 million transfer fee.
When Salt Lake (8-6-3, 27 points) plays host to Minnesota United (6-6-6, 24 points) on Saturday in Sandy, Utah, it will try to compensate for the loss of the 19-year-old Gozo and reverse its slide.
To generate firepower, RSL will have to depend more on Sergi Solans (seven goals, three assists), Diego Luna (four goals, three assists) and Morgan Guilavogui (one goal, six assists).
“We’re going to have to learn to adapt our game without him,” RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni said.
So far, life after Gozo is going well. Following his departure, RSL won two Leagues Cup matches in a span of four days, outscoring opponents 7-0 and capturing a berth in the knockout round of the tournament. Solans scored twice and Salt Lake got goals from five other players in the two wins.
Saturday’s matchup will be against a Western Conference nemesis. RSL haven’t beaten Minnesota in nine matches dating to 2022. Seven of those meetings have resulted in draws, including a 1-1 standoff May 23 in Saint Paul, Minn., which started Salt Lake on its current winless run in the league.
Minnesota is on a seven-game streak without an MLS win but is still clinging to one of the final playoff spots in the crowded West table, where three points separate fifth place from 10th place.
In all competitions, the Loons were on a nine-game winless run until rallying for a 3-1 victory over Atlante on Tuesday in Leagues Cup play. Joaquin Pereyra scored two of Minnesota’s three second-half goals.
“It’s all about building on the performances we’ve had and building to the start of league play,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said.
Against RSL, the Loons will look to top scorer Kelvin Yeboah (eight goals) and the playmaking Pereyra, who leads the team with seven assists.
Minnesota also has gotten a lift from Marcus Caldeira, a call-up from its reserve squad, who assisted on both Pereyra goals Tuesday.
“Often the jump from the second team to the first is a big one to make,” Knowles said. “But he continues to grow, continues to improve.”
–Field Level Media
