Entering Saturday’s match at America First Field, West leaders Vancouver arrived to its former Utah home with an unbeaten mark of 3-0-2 in its last five matches, one of which being a 2-1 home win against Real Salt Lake earlier in the month. The Claret-and-Cobalt entered with just one victory in its last five against two losses and two draws, falling to 12th place in the conference.
Despite a heartbreaking home loss with a visitors’ game-winner in the 90th minute, there are historical ramifications from this match, as Saturday marked the first time in RSL’s 21-year Major League Soccer history (663 reg. season games) to have scored twice inside the first five minutes, the Utah side also the first since the 2018 New York Red Bulls to accomplish the rare feat.
Eighteen-Year-Old Utah Native Zavier Gozo Shines, Making RSL History 60 Hours After Graduating High School
Born in West Valley City, Utah, Zavier Gozo has been surrounded by the Club since a young age, born and raised in the shadow of RSL’s Sandy venue. Emerging in recent months as a truly special player, while playing with the Real Monarchs and various USA Youth National teams, Gozo hones his craft daily to create extra quality, aspiring to rise up the professional levels at his young age. Another standout product of the Real Salt Lake Academy, within the first 50 seconds of his sixth-consecutive start - albeit one in a new position - Gozo impacted RSL’s history Saturday against Vancouver.
Briefly after kickoff, Gozo sprinted to the left side of the attacking third with a deviously-curved run behind the the Vancouver defense, where he found precisely by Diego Luna. Gozo took a touch and sliced towards goal, opening up his body to unleash a venomous strike inside the near post, through the legs of a defender and blowing by the Vancouver ‘keeper.
History being made for Gozo at age 18, already in his third professional season with the Club, becoming the third-youngest goalscorer (18 years, 63 days) and the seventh-fastest goal (00:50) in Real Salt Lake history. The only two younger scorers in the team’s 21 seasons history were Luis Gil (17 years, 265 days) and Freddy Adu (17 years, 352 days).
A second chance later fell to Gozo, cutting across the defenders with a near-post run, knowing that William Agada was centrally occupying defenders, Gozo ruled offside on the initial cross. The wherewithal and knowledge to pursue a critically-dangerous area, at such a young age with his limited experience, showed glimpses of just what kind of brilliance he could demonstrate going forward. Alongside Gozo’s desire and guile to get into scoring positions is his hunger for scoring goals.
Creating chances for others throughout the game with a magnificent attempted cross coming early in the second half, Gozo often forced the Vancouver defense to scramble. Often combining with Luna and Marczuk, Gozo receiving the ball off of their beautiful attacking plays, allowing for opportunities in space and crosses to come in.
In the 59th minute, Gozo seized a surging run down the right side, showing off his blistering pace and reaching the end line, sending in an initially-blocked cross, before firing a shot from an extremely tight angle that required quick reflexes from the Whitecaps ‘keeper to deny.
Despite a stellar first half from Gozo, a lack of service in the second half limited dangerous creative chances in a deadlocked final 45’. A 90th minute game-winner at the death from Vancouver gave the Whitecaps a 3-2 road victory, as Real Salt Lake couldn’t find the back of the net after its dream start.
“It has been a long time coming, Gozo has been in really good spots and I think it’s moments like that really accelerate your belief, accelerate your career, and one of the bright spots on the field tonight,” said RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni about the Academy products’ start.
A terrific game from Gozo - who had just participated in his commencement ceremony for his high school graduation midday Thursday - allowed himself to celebrate his first goal in the MLS.
When asked which he enjoyed more, the goal or the diploma, Gozo responded “the goal for sure!”
Diego Luna Quality Again on Display with Pair of Goal Contributions
RSL and U.S. Men’s National Team starlet Diego Luna created the early RSL goal with a beautifully-weighted ball into space, finding Gozo and allowing him the time and space to get his head up and decide his attacking path.
Just three minutes later, the Luna goal resulted from a dangerous Marczuk cross, which forced the Whitecaps ‘keeper to make a sprawling stop, while pushing the ball directly into Luna’s path for a thunderous rebound strike into the net. This marks Luna’s eighth goal of the season - matching his 2024 MLS All-Star and reigning MLS Young Player of the Year output - as well as his third assist of 2025.
What’s Next for RSL?
The Claret-and-Cobalt travel to take on Austin FC this Wednesday, May 28, at Q2 Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 PM MT and will be streamed on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
