When the curtain finally falls and the tale of Real Salt Lake’s 2025 campaign is written, the opening lines of the story exposition might read something resembling: “three, zero, six” – for three wins, zero draws, and six defeats. Not a horror story, by any simple means, a sports one - clearly - but surely one might be forgiven for ever thinking otherwise.
Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s charges suffered a second successive loss at the weekend, succumbing to an early first-half concession and consequently slumping to a difficult, bitter 1-0 loss to Eastern Conference side Toronto FC at America First Field on Saturday night.
Twenty-three (23) shots to two in RSL’s favor painted the image of a contest the hosts near-utterly and comprehensively dominated. Contemporary stats and figures doubtlessly can, oftimes, be misleading due to their malleability in terms of promoting agendas. This wasn’t one of those times.
For the visitors, this was the quintessential video game smash-and-grab brought to life. Two shots, one on target, was all that it took.
Winger Theo Corbeanu scored the goal, within merely the opening 10 minutes, that would serve to condemn the Claret-and-Cobalt to a sixth defeat in nine domestic matches, and seventh in 11 games across all competitions thus far this season.
A contest of much toil and drama was brought to a crescendo early in the second half when USMNT international Diego Luna was handed his marching orders by referee Sergii Demianchuk near the stroke of the hour-mark, forcing RSL to see out the remainder of the game with 10 men.
Having controlled much of the exchanges until that point, the team’s labor and effort would yet ensue. Victory in the end, however, would not.
The result thus leaves RSL in 11th place on the Western Conference table, and marks a third series of back-to-back losses for Mastroeni’s side already so far in the campaign.
Here, our Player Spotlight series discusses the team’s most encouraging performers from a night of much anguish and dismay.
Formidable Vera returning to form; Eneli, Katranis embattled
“Consistency, at last?” – was an article title this author had had penned and planned to use for a potential future storyline piece whenever RSL had managed to string together at the very least two, or more, successive wins.
With the chances of that continuing to look wafer thin and uncertain, and on the back of defender Brayan Vera’s recent performances, it seems perhaps fitting to adapt the title as an introduction to the center back’s section.
A week ago, during a 2-1 defeat away at Nashville, the Colombian center-half came under the spotlight for the sort of committed, much-praised defensive display supporters had longed for – yet remained unsure could be sustained consistently, with the ghost of Minnesota striker Tani Oluwaseyi’s brace weeks earlier still the source of many a mind’s haunting.
On Saturday night, the 26-year-old delivered the first response to those contemporary niggling doubts as evidence of his recent return to form.
Continuing from where he left off in Nashville, Vera yet again provided a confident display at the heart of defense with important blocks, clearances, and interceptions.
In the 17th minute, his tackle and clearance on former Juventus winger Federico Bernadeschi stopped a dangerous-looking Toronto transition and drew cheers from the home crowd. Eight minutes later, the defender was well positioned on the left-hand channel to intercept a through pass from midfielder Lorenzo Insigne which would’ve put Bernadeschi through on the visitors’ right flank.
In the second half, as the team fought for a way back, Vera came close, connecting with a header at the back post from a direct inswinging corner but he could only manage to guide his effort wide.
In the 54th minute, the 26-year-old’s mazy run from the midway line, through the left half space and down the byline into the defensive third created nearly a chance when his subsequent low ball into the box found striker Jesus Barea but the opportunity would eventually sadly fizzle out.
Throughout the Club, the Colombian is much renowned for his passing ability as well as his ball striking. By the end of the night, his 67 completed passes, the most of any player on the pitch throughout the match, served as ample solid evidence of the former, alongside his five recoveries, two interceptions, and three clearances.
Vera’s efforts going forward were also helped by the exertions of left back Alex Katranis on the night. In the 69th minute, the Greek defender thought he might’ve managed to pull his side level, but his header at the back post, from a cross from Bode Hidalgo, was well-punched away by Sean Johnson in goal for Toronto. As a mark of Katranis’ efficiency, his three chances created by the end of the contest represented the most of any player on the pitch at any point throughout the match.
Slightly further up the pitch, RSL Captain Emeka Eneli also delivered an embattled performance, stationed at the base of midfield, in the face of adversity. The midfielder’s running power and dribbling ability to carry the ball over large distances has proven a pivotal tool in aiding the team’s build up and attacking arsenal, and in exaltation of that, the 25-year-old’s five dribbles and 10 duels won also represented the most of anyone all through the night.
Saturday night marked the latest of a long line of gloomy, dreary nights for RSL - with just five wins, five losses and three draws on Utah soil since late August, 2024 - but when the team searched in desperate need of a leader, someone to look up to and lead the charge, Eneli ensured, as always, that he was never at all found wanting.
What next for RSL?
Next up for RSL is an away clash with San Diego FC, in the first of three successive away matches, at Snapdragon Stadium, with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV + / MLS Season Pass.
