Real Salt Lake haven’t won an MLS match since May 16, and star midfielder Diego Luna is done for the season.
Real Salt Lake have endured a tough season and aim to halt an 11-match MLS winless streak when they face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night in Sandy, Utah.
Luna missed last Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to New York City FC due to a sore knee, three days after playing 70 minutes during a Sept. 9 match against the Houston Dynamo. On Tuesday, he announced on social media that he would undergo surgery for a torn meniscus.
“Now my season has been cut short, and a new chapter of recovery begins,” Luna said. “With a torn meniscus that needs to be repaired, I will use this time to heal mentally and physically and come back stronger than ever.”
Luna, 23, had five goals and six assists in 18 matches for RSL this season. The United States men’s national team midfielder has 27 goals and 28 assists in five seasons with Salt Lake.
“I think there’s caution with this injury,” RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni said Friday of Luna’s knee.
Salt Lake (8-11-5, 29 points) last won 2-1 at home over the Colorado Rapids in mid-May. Since then, RSL have gone 0-7-4 in MLS play and are one point out of ninth place and the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Vancouver (14-6-4, 46 points) sits atop the West, three points ahead of the Dynamo and FC Dallas.
The Whitecaps lost 2-1 to CF Montreal on Wednesday for a 3-2 aggregate setback in the Canadian Championship semifinals.
“I think we created a few half-chances, but we struggled to get some clean openings,” Vancouver midfielder Ryan Gauld said after the match.
In MLS play, the Whitecaps have lost two of three MLS matches this month, including a 2-1 home loss to Austin FC on Sunday.
Star forward Brian White scored his 15th goal, tying for third in MLS. It marks the fourth straight season White has scored at least 15 goals. His career high is 16, set in 2025.
Vancouver defeated visiting RSL 1-0 on Feb. 21, securing its third consecutive victory in the series.
–Field Level Media
