MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Friday, September 5, 2025) - Real Salt Lake (3-2-2, 11pts.) close out its Torneo Internacional campaign with a 2-1 over Necaxa (3-3-1, 10pts) claiming third place in the league table.
Embracing the villain role and already eliminated from title contention, the Claret-and-Cobalt came flying out of the gate in hopes of spoiling Necaxa’s title hopes, a must win match for the LIGA MX side.
RSL’s first chance of the game came in the 14th minute as striker Chase Duke chased down a long through ball between the lines placing his scoring chance just over the crossbar.
Four minutes later Matteo Zambrano capitalized off of a sloppy Necaxa turnover. Casually claiming the turnover, Axel Uriostegui laid off a simple pass to Zambrano who used a couple touches to create space and fire to the far post, finding the side netting for his second goal of the tournament.
RSL continued to attack seeking a second but its efforts did not prevail before the break.
Needing an equalizer Los Rayos controlled the first few minutes of the second half. The Claret-and-Cobalt rode out the defensive efforts and transformed them into attacking moments of its own.
In the 52nd minute Duke redeemed his chances from earlier in the match taping one home after receiving a low driven ball from Nico Silva. The goal would prove to be the winner after Necaxa got on the board after converting off of a corner in stoppage time.
Individual Leaders:
Goals: Duke: 3 /Riquelme: 2 / Zambrano: 2 / Marquez: 1
Assists: Marquez: 2 / Duke: 1 / Silva: 1 / Uriostegui: 1
Clean Sheets: Kyriazis: 2 / Jarvie: 1
Real Salt Lake Fixtures: Results Italicized
8/28: Club Atlético Peñarol: 0-0
8/29: Orlando City SC: 0-2
8/30: Pumas UNAM: 0-0
9/1: Rayados de Monterrey: 4-0
9/2: Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16: 3-1
9/3: Santos Laguna: 0-3
9/5: Necaxa: 2-1
Tournament Table:
- Orlando City SC (16pts)
- Santos Laguna (13 pts)
- Real Salt Lake (11 pts)
- Pumas (11 pts)
- Necaxa (10 pts)
- Rayados de Monterrey (8 pts)
- Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (7 pts)
- Club Atlético Peñarol (2 pts)
Group 1 Standings: Team (W-L-D) pts
- *Santos Laguna (44-2-1) 13pts
- Pumas (3-2-2) 11pts
- Necaxa (3-1-3) 10pts
- Rayados de Monterrey (2-3-2) 8pts
Group 2 Standings: Team (W-L-D) pts
- *Orlando City SC (5-1-1) 16pts
- Real Salt Lake (3-2-2) 11pts
- Selección Nacional de México - Sub 16 (2-4-1) 7pts
- Club Atlético Peñarol: (0-5-2) 2pts
*Clinched Group Title
Real Salt Lake Academy is the official MLS NEXT affiliate of MLS side Real Salt Lake. After a historic 2024-25 season that saw RSL become the first academy to have a squad win both the Generation adidas Cup and MLS NEXT Cup in the same season, the group now looks to build upon a firm foundation. Leading Major League Soccer in all-time homegrown signings, RSL welcomed Omar Marquez, Aiden Hezarkhani, Owen Anderson, and Gio Villa in January of this year, all RSL Academy products as part of its 42 homegrown signings after inking their deals with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
