By: Maximiliano ReyesSunday, October 19, 2025
Real Salt Lake’s Decision Day clash in St. Louis proved to be more than just a regular-season finale—it was a night that confirmed the Claret-and-Cobalt’s perennial postseason pedigree. At the heart of it all was Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji, who scored twice in the opening half-hour to power RSL to an eventual 2-2 draw and secure the Club’s League-best fifth consecutive playoff berth.
Olatunji’s Breakthrough Performance: A Brace to Remember
After narrowly missing out on an early opener in the fourth minute - when his strike from Zavier Gozo’s cross was ruled offside - Olatunji made sure his next few chances were certain.
In the 17th minute, Braian Ojeda threaded a perfectly-weighted pass along the near-side touchline through midfield to find Zavier Gozo streaking down the flank. The teenage winger delivered a pinpoint one-touch cross into the box, and Olatunji instinctively showed his poacher’s pedigree, calmly sliding the ball past Roman Bürki to draw first blood and give RSL the lead.
Fifteen minutes later, Olatunji doubled the advantage in emphatic fashion. Diogo Gonçalves, from deep in RSL’s half, sent a perfectly-timed low ball through St. Louis’ back line. Victor timed his 50-yard run to perfection, sprinting clear of the defense before slotting another composed finish past Bürki for his first-ever MLS career brace.
With his two goals, Olatunji now boasts a total of four in his first eight matches with RSL, establishing himself as one of the Leagues’s most in-form striker heading into the MLS postseason.
Cabral’s Heroics Secure the Point
Captain and goalkeeper Rafael Cabral delivered yet another commanding performance between the posts, reinforcing his reputation as RSL’s Iron Man. Cabral produced yet again a highlight reel of crucial stops - disallowed penalty save in the 39th minute, a close-range denial in the 50th, and another full-stretch block moments later to preserve RSL’s lead.
Even after St. Louis clawed back late, Cabral’s composure and leadership helped RSL withstand waves of pressure to secure the decisive postseason-clinching draw. Having played every single one of 3,510 minutes across RSL’s 39 all-competition matches this season, his consistency and leadership have been nothing short of remarkable.
Defensive Grit and Team Resilience
Throughout the second half, RSL defenders Justen Glad and Brayan Vera anchored the back line with critical clearances and emergency blocks, while Diego Luna and Ojeda continued to orchestrate transitions through the midfield. Despite St. Louis finding a late equalizer in the 89th minute, RSL’s collective effort ensured it left Energizer Park with the result needed to extend the 2025 campaign.
Looking Ahead
With the draw, Real Salt Lake officially clinched ninth place in the Western Conference, rising from 14th overall in June to book its spot in MLS’ Western Conference Wild Card match. The Claret-and-Cobalt now head to Providence Park for a high-stakes midweek clash against the eighth-seeded Portland Timbers, where the winner will advance to face San Diego in the First Round, Best-of-Three series of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT, and fans can stream the match free exclusively on Apple TV. With everything on the line, RSL will look to lean on its veteran leadership, defensive grit, and emerging newcomers to keep the attacking momentum alive - along with a fifth consecutive postseason, as RSL seeks its first Conference Semifinal appearance since 2021.
As Real Salt Lake turns its attention to Portland, Victor Olatunji’s blistering form arrives at the perfect moment. His growing chemistry with Diego Luna, Zavier Gozo, Rwan Cruz and Diogo Gonçalves has added new dimensions to RSL’s attack - speed, precision and creativity. Should those connections continue to thrive, Olatunji’s finishing touch could very well be the spark that propels the Claret-and-Cobalt deeper into the postseason as a dangerous candidate for MLS Cup glory.
