By Isabella Rubis
As RSL fans filed into the Riot for a chilly Saturday evening match against St. Louis CITY FC, Mastroeni’s men made sure to create a memorable night for all. With a rookie’s third career brace, an improbable second-half screamer and the return of a Club legend, RSL soared to a commanding 3-0 victory against the newly-crowned Ooen Cup Champions. As the race for a 2026 Audi MLS Cup Playoff spot grows tighter, the Claret-and-Cobalt look to extend its West-best active playoff streak to six consecutive seasons, having advanced to the postseason in seven of the last eight seasons and 15 of the last 18 years.
While the emotional evening for Real Salt Lake featured three goals by two different players, the home side also impressively kept the visitors off the scoresheet, earning its first clean sheet against St. Louis in eight all-time meetings and just its sixth overall this season across MLS and Leagues Cup action. The Claret-and-Cobalt dominated throughout, earning an overwhelming 20 shots to St. Louis’ three and forcing the opposing ‘keeper to make multiple saves.
While multiple RSL players provided clinical moments Saturday, it was none other than RSL’s rookie striker, Sergi Solans, who shined most brightly.
Solans Can’t Stop Scoring
In his first professional season, the Spanish-born rookie striker has dazzled on the pitch, not only scoring an impressive 14 MLS goals thus far, but showcasing unwavering fight with persistent pressure and high-level movement both on and off the ball. With his goals in the 41st and 59th minute on Saturday, the former college soccer standout impressively earned his third brace of the 2026 season, now with a chance to rewrite the MLS record books for the first-year players, needing just three goals in RSL’s final three matches to match Orlando rookie Cyle Larin’s 17-goal total from 2015.
The red-hot evening for Solans was set in motion by Canadian 2026 World Cup standout, DF Luc de Fougerolles, who dispossessed an opponent at midfield before passing the ball off to Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui. The French-born Guinean ultimately sent a perfect one-touch pass through the center of the box. As the ball came through untouched, Solans timed his run perfectly on the back post to send the ball home. The Guilavogui/Solans connection has provided numerous highlights this season, with each RSL newcomer powering the Club towards postseason contention.
Just 18 minutes after his first, Solans netted his second goal on the night, giving the home side a commanding 3-0 lead. Georgian midfielder Saba Lobjanidze showcased his pace, rapidly dribbling the ball up the pitch and towards the goal line before sending a laser of a pass centrally for the striker, who outpaced the backline to reach the ball and send it firmly into the net.
In just his first season as a professional, the Lleida, Spain native has not only cemented himself as a key piece of the RSL squad, but an emerging striking force within the league. At just 23 years old, Solans is taking MLS by storm, using his impressive speed, high-level movement and scoring ability to not only give his club a fighting chance at a playoff berth, but by creating a name for himself within MLS as a threat to any opponent.
With 14 MLS goals thus far in 2026, Solans now sits just three shy of the Cristian Arango / Alvaro Saborio single-season record for Real Salt Lake. The young starlet has also now surpassed Duncan McGuire (13 goals in 2023 for Orlando) for the second-most goals in league history by an MLS SuperDraft selection in his rookie year. With three regular-season games remaining, the striker can not only break both Club and League records, but provide the driving force for RSL’s sixth consecutive playoff appearance.
Second-Half Screamer Earns Marczuk His Second Goal of 2026
The third-year Polish U22 midfielder was the other RSL player to feature on the scoresheet Saturday, finding his second goal of 2026 (at Orlando, August 22) in the 52nd minute, doubling the home side's lead prior to the Solans brace.
At just 22 years old, Dominik Marczuk showcased his striking threat from distance, sending a long-distance screamer into the back of the net from an unexpectedly sharp angle. The goal-scoring play was set in motion once again by Canadian standout de Fougerolles, who slotted the ball out wide for Marczuk. The midfielder took one touch before letting a powerful shot rip from 25 yards out, picking out the near-post corner with power.
Prior to his score, Marczuk has become a more consistent member of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s starting lineup in recent weeks, injecting defensive energy and creativity within the offensive third. As Real Salt Lake continues to regain key roster pieces from injury, the former Poland Young Player of the Year has continued to make a case for himself as the squad looks to continue to earn results in its final three regular-season matches.
Glad Makes Long Awaited Return to the Pitch
Rounding out the spectacular evening for RSL was the return of the Club’s Academy poster boy, Justen Glad, who stepped onto the pitch for the first time since May 23 at Minnesota. After struggling with an adductor injury for nearly five months, the prolific RSL defender joined his teammates on the pitch in the 60th minute, earning a standing ovation from the roaring home crowd of 20,614 fans.
The Homegrown defender has been a constant within the backline for the club since 2016, featuring in 26 or more games as a back line stalwart in each of the last five seasons, at times wearing the Captain’s armband, always serving as a key leadership piece within the young RSL side. The return of the 29-year-old centerback couldn’t come at a better time, the veteran bringing high-level defensive abilities and poise to a squad in pursuit of a postseason berth.
Real Salt Lake now hits the road for a two-match road trip this week. First, RSL travels to the Lone Star state to face Austin FC in a midweek match this Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m. MT. This weekend, RSL will close out the busy three-game week in the Bay Area, meeting the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. That Halloween match on Saturday is slated to kickoff at 3 p.m. MT, both matches streaming on Apple TV.
Real Salt Lake now hits the road for a two-match road trip this week. First, RSL travels to the Lone Star state to face Austin FC in a midweek match this Wednesday, October 28, at 5:30 p.m. MT. This weekend, RSL will close out the busy three-game week in the Bay Area, meeting the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. That Halloween match on Saturday is slated to kickoff at 3 p.m. MT, both matches streaming on Apple TV.
