By Jay Kostal
In the first regular-season match after a two-month break due to the 2026 MLS World Cup, Real Salt Lake suffered a convincing 3-1 defeat at LAFC Wednesday, despite having the statistical upperhand throughout the match.
A First RSL, MLS Goal for Lukas Engel
Late in the second half, newcomer Saba Lobjanidze provided an outswinging corner to bring RSL back into the match. First-year DF Lukas Engel took a couple steps back from the ball as it drifted to the far post, where the former Cincinnati man found himself wide open in the box. Taking Saba’s service off his chest before letting the ball drop to his favored left foot for a beautifully-struck half-volley, the power behind Engel’s venomous shot secured the Dane's first-ever MLS / RSL goal in his 50th MLS appearance.
Engel arrived in MLS on loan from English Championship side Middlesbrough, where the Danish defender spent two seasons before going to FC Cincinnati last season, often pairing with DeAndre Yedlin prior to his August, 2025 move to Utah. Playing in 33 MLS matches and assisting four times for the Ohio side, Engel’s reliability and knack for winning the ball has made him a top-choice centerback this season.
“Gozo did a great job blocking his guy to create the chance for me to score the goal,” Engel commented post-game about his first goal since March 2024, scoring for Middlesbrough against Norwich City.
The defender pivoted to focus on the next match Saturday at Portland, stating: “A lot of positives to take away from this game, I think we had 3.00 xG today, which is something we can take away from this game”.
Saba Lobjanidze Assists on his Debut
Before arriving in MLS, Lobjanidze enjoyed a long European career, scoring 71 goals in 307 matches, his most prolific seasons coming with Danish Superlig team Randers FC. In his 3 seasons with Randers, Lobjanidze scored 29 goals, stemming from a variety of different chances as he was kicking off his career.
Coming over from Atlanta United on July 1, what can RSL expect from the 31 year old Georgian attacker as he begins his journey in the Wasatch side?
Through 645 minutes of play in MLS this season, Lobjanidze scored 2 goals in Atlanta. An experienced left-footed player who can create high-percentage chances in and around the penalty area, often using his skill brilliantly to endanger defenders in the attacking third. In only 15 minutes of action on Wednesday, Lobjanidze showed the Utah side why he is such a dangerous threat, weaving line-breaking passes in behind the LAFC defense, serving up a memorable Claret-and-Cobalt debut with an assist off a beautiful right-footed corner.
Real Salt Lake now travel to Portland to face the Timbers as part of the three-game road foray returning from the World Cup break. RSL continues the regular season at Providence Park on Saturday, before ending the road swing away at St. Louis City SC after the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, heading to Energizer Park on Sat., Aug. 1. RSL then finally returns to America First Field in Sandy on Tuesday, August 4 to kick off a run of five games in 15 days on Utah soil, starting its 2026 Leagues Cup campaign against Liga MX power Tigres UANL.
Tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
