Real Salt Lake Earns Critical Road Points in 2-1 Comeback Win at Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (Wed., Oct. 28, 2026) – Real Salt Lake (12-14-6, 42 points, 8th West / 17th MLS Shield) defeated Austin FC (8-14-10, 34 points, 14th West / 26th MLS Shield) to earn an important 2-1 victory on Wednesday at Q2 Stadium, the Utah side’s fourth consecutive unbeaten match and its third straight win, pushing RSL above the playoff line with 42 points and two games remaining.

Wednesday marked RSL’s third come-from-behind win of 2026, as well as the Club’s third road win of the season. Georgian MF Saba Lobjanidze opened up the scoring with a stunning equalizer, curling the ball into the top right corner of the net just minutes after going down 1-0. RSL Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui ultimately earned the game-winning goal in the 61st minute, his fifth goal of the season, assisted by rookie striker Sergi Solans, who now has a team-high seven game-deciding goals or assists.

For the first time in his five-plus years at the RSL helm, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni made no changes to the starting XI for a fourth consecutive contest. Now securing 10 of its last 12 available points, RSL arrived in Austin just two points off the playoff line, looking to continue the momentum of its back-to-back wins and inch closer to a West-best sixth consecutive playoff berth. 

As the midweek match got underway, it was the home side which put immediate pressure on the RSL defense, forcing Captain and ‘keeper Rafael Cabral to make a heroic save, stretching to punch the ball over the woodwork in the third minute. As the teams hit the midway mark of the first half, both sides traded tangible offensive opportunities, while the Claret-and-Cobalt showcased high-level movement, bringing the ball up and across the pitch with ease and creativity. 

In the 30th minute, the visitors earned its most tangible shot of the half after DF Philip Quinton sent a ball centrally up the pitch for Georgian MF Lobjanidze, whose blind back-heel touch was paced perfectly for Solans, who outpaced his defender to send a shot just wide of the goal.

Just before halftime, the Claret-and-Cobalt seemingly took the lead after a smart chip by Lobjanidze hit the back of the net, but the score was nullified due to the offside flag. Although the visitors dominated throughout the first half, generating 10 shots and maintaining over 50% of possession, both sides headed into the locker room scoreless. 

After creating a multitude of chances, it was the home side which struck first, netting the opener in the 52nd minute. Real Salt Lake did not let the concession slow down its commitment or effort, charging up the pitch and equalizing just minutes later. The play began with MF Stijn Spierings finding Uruguayan World Cup standout JuanMa Sanabria wide left. After taking a touch, Sanabria sent a ball centrally to Lobjanidze, whose high soccer IQ positioned his body perfectly, before sending a curling shot into the top right corner for the equalizer.

The visitors refused to take the foot off the gas, with Solans linking up with Guilavogui just six minutes later for the eventual game-winner. The assist by Solans marks his 18th goal contribution of the 2026 MLS season, while the French-born Guinean tallied his fifth goal of the year, and his third in the last two road wins at Kansas City and Austin.

After making multiple substitutions in an attempt to keep the legs as fresh as possible for the Claret-and-Cobalt’s third and final match of the congested week, Mastroeni and his men finished the lengthy nine minutes of second-half stoppage time with a second consecutive road win, its first back-to-back away victories since April, 2024. By securing three points on the evening, RSL leapfrogged above the LA Galaxy and into playoff position with two matches remaining, while also keeping eliminating Austin from the postseason, Verde not winning at home since July 22. 

The 2026 playoff push continues this Saturday, October 31 as Real Salt Lake remains on the road for its third and final game of the week against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Halloween matinee and final 2026 MLS regular-season road match for RSL is slated to kickoff at 3 p.m. MT, streaming on Apple TV.

GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY: 

ATX 1  : 2 RSL

ATX: Jordge Alastuey (Unassisted) 52’: After a cross into the box was headed out by the RSL defense, Alastuey found the ball at his feet and took a touch before sending a low, left-footed screamer into the back of the net from distance. 

RSL: Saba Lobjanidze (Juan Manuel Sanabria, Stijn Spierings) 55’: Just minutes after conceding, the visitors brought the ball up the pitch, ultimately landing with Sanabria. After taking a touch, the Uruguayan found Lobjanidze at the top of the box, where he strategically took a touch before sending a curling, right-footed shot into the top corner of the net. 

RSL: Morgan Guilavogui (Sergi Solans) 61’: After receiving a well-paced ball from Guilavogui, Solans took intricate touches before bringing the ball around his defender, slicing the ball across the box for Guilavogui, who sent the ball home with a one-touch shot with his right foot. 

NOTES FROM ATX 1 : 2 RSL

• RSL is now 3-10-3 (W-L-T) on the road in 2026 

• RSL earned its first back-to-back road wins since April, 2024, at Chicago and Philadelphia 

• Rookie sensation Solans now has 18 goal contributions in his first professional season

• Tonight’s goal marks the fourth for Lobjanidze in his first season with RSL

• With his goal tonight, Guilavogui now has three goals in as many road matches, with two assists.

• With his yellow card this evening, Guilavogui will now be unavailable against San Jose this weekend due to a caution accumulation suspension 

• Prior to tonight, RSL had just two previous come-from-behind wins this year, both at home against Austin and Colorado. 

• RSL now owns an active four-game unbeaten streak, losing just once in its last six matches (Oct. 10 at Philadelphia), following the extended 13-game winless stretch

LINEUPS:

Real Salt Lake (5-4-1): Rafael Cabral ©; Dominik Marczuk (Zach Booth, 67’), Luc de Fougerolles, Philip Quinton (Justen Glad, 80’), Kobi Henry, JuanMa Sanabria; Saba Lobjanidze (Alex Katranis, 86’), Stijn Spierings, Noel Caliskan, Morgan Guilavogui (Ari Piol, 80’); Sergi Solans (DeAndre Yedlin, 80’)

Subs not used: Mason Stajduhar, Aiden Hezarkhani, Sam Junqua, Colin Guske

Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni

Austin FC (3-4-3): Damian Las; Mikkel Desler (Przemyslaw Placheta, 64’), Ilie Sanchez ©, Guilherme Biro; Joseph Rosales (Brendan Hines-Ike, 64’), Besard Sabovic (Christian Ramirez, 70’), Jordge Alastuey, Jon Gallagher (Zan Kolmanic, 76’); Myrto Uzuni, Facundo Torres, Brandon Vazquez

Subs not used: Brad Stuver, Riley Dean Thomas, Oleksandr Svatok, Micah Burton, Mateja Djordjevic

Head Coach: Davy Arnaud 

STATS SUMMARY: ATX / RSL

Shots: 19 / 17

Shots on Goal: 4 / 5

Saves: 3 / 2

Corner Kicks: 8 / 7

Fouls: 6 / 11

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

RSL: Morgan Guilavogui (Yellow Card - 35’)

ATX: Damian Las (Yellow Card - 62’) 

ATX: Jordge Alastuey (Yellow Card - 77’)