RSL Falls 0-2 to NYCFC in Sandy, Extends Winless Streak to 11 Overall

SANDY, Utah (Sat., Sept. 12, 2026) – Real Salt Lake (8-11-5 29 points, 11th West / 21st MLS Shield) suffered a rare home loss, falling 0-2 at America First Field to extend its overall MLS winless streak to 11 matches as visiting New York City FC (8-9-8, 32 points, 7th East / 15th MLS Shield) scored once in each half in front of RSL’s 16th consecutive home sellout crowd of 20,293 fans. 

The 0-2 home loss against NYCFC extended the Claret-and-Cobalt’s home MLS winless streak to four games, dating back to May 16 - its second-longest since a 2016/17 six-game drought in Sandy. The highlight of the night saw Utah native and recently-acquired attacker Taylor Booth make his MLS and RSL debut in the 76th minute, becoming all-time RSL player No. 243 and the 14th Club debutant this season.

RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni made six personnel changes and one positional shift to the starting XI following Wednesday’s 2-1 road loss in Houston. RSL’s 2026 Golden Boot leader Sergi Solans returned to the lineup, as did Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui and Georgian MF Saba Lobjanidze, looking to extend his scoring streak .

For the 11th time in 14 matches since the World Cup break, at least one RSL Academy product started the match, as 18-year-old MF Luca Moisa returned to the pivot for his third start in the last six matches, while defenders Philip Quinton and Alex Katranis joined veteran DF DeAndre Yedlin, who shifted from right wing to right centerback to round out the host of changes.

Real Salt Lake started its third match in eight days with the roar of the sold-out Riot pulsating, earning a corner kick in the 15th minute. Moisa sent a powerful shot to the bottom corner of the net, but USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese was able to deflect the shot away, gathering himself to quickly deny Lobjanidze at the doorstep. 

The Claret-and-Cobalt continued to pressure the NYCFC defense, forcing Freese to make multiple saves throughout the first 20 minutes. After a difficult spell of calls against the home side, New York was first on the scoresheet, awarded a free kick in the 41st minute to put RSL down 0-1 at halftime.  

Real Salt Lake came out of the locker room with relentless energy, maintaining a high level of possession throughout the start of the half. In the 57th minute, Columbian U22 centerback Juan Jose Arias suffered an apparent hamstring injury, replaced by 22-year-old Kobi Henry.

While RSL was able to earn attacking opportunities, the visitors took the decisive 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute. As the home side searched for a score, it was second-half substitute Henry who came up big in the defensive third, sliding to block a shot directly in front of goal in the 81st minute. 

In the 76th minute, Eden, Utah native Tyler Booth made his MLS and RSL debut, arriving back home just last week at the close of the summer transfer window. While RSL maintained over 50% of possession throughout the match, the home side was unable to find the back of the net, suffering its first home shutout since July 19, 2025, in an 0-1 loss to Cincinnati. The loss dropped RSL to 7-3-2 (W-L-T) in MLS action at home this season, and 10-3-3 across all competitions in 2026.

Real Salt Lake remains at home next Saturday, September 19, welcoming top-ranked Western Conference side Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff for the critical matchup is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. MT with tickets available for purchase here.

GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY: 

RSL 0 : 2 NYC

NYC: Nicolás Fernández  (Agustin Ojeda) 41‘: After earning a free kick, Ojeda sent the ball right for Fernández who took a touch before sending a left footed shot into the top left corner of the net. 

NYC: Luighi (Agustin Ojeda, Tayvon Gray) 62‘: After receiving a ball up the pitch from Gray, Ojeda outpaced his defender to bring the ball into the box and towards the goal line before shoveling it central for Luighi who sent a one touch right-footed shot into the back of the net. 

NOTES FROM RSL 0 : 2 NYC

• RSL now has a four-game home winless streak in MLS play, its longest since 2016/17 crossover seasons

• The Claret-and-Cobalt now sit with an 11-game winless streak in MLS play, with its last win coming prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on May 16 (2-1 v Colorado). 

• RSL now holds a 7-3-2 (W-L-T) MLS home record and 10-3-3 record at AFF across all competitions in 2026 

• RSL’s recently-dominant home record now slips to 18-6-5 (W-L-T) since June 1, 2025. 

• During the 213-game Mastroeni era, RSL has now dropped back-to-back matches on just 23 occasions.

LINEUPS:

Real Salt Lake (5-4-1): Rafael Cabral ©; Alex Katranis, DeAndre Yedlin, Juan Jose Arias (Kobi Henry, 57’), Philip Quinton (Aiden Hezarkhani, 67‘), JuanMa Sanabria; Morgan Guilavogui (Taylor Booth, 76’), Luca Moisa (Colin Guske, 57’), Noel Caliskan, Saba Lobjanidze;  Sergi Solans (Lineker Rodrigues, 67‘)

Subs not used: Mason Stajduhar, Jason Shokalook, Emeka Eneli, Ruben Mesalles  

Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni

New York City FC (4-3-3): Matt Freese; Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins ©, James Sands, Nico Cavallo (Kevin O’Toole, 80’); Nicolas Fernandez, Andres Parea, Jonathan Shore (Aiden O’Neill, 80’); Agustin Ojeda, Luighi (Beanie Traore, 72‘), Hannes Wolf (Alonso Martinez, 88’) 

Subs not used: Tomas Romero, Max Murray, Raul Gustavo, Mitja Ilenic, Malachi Jones

Head Coach: Pascal Jansen 

Stats Summary: RSL / NYC

Shots: 15 / 6

Shots on Goal: 6 / 3

Saves: 1 / 6

Corner Kicks: 10 / 1

Fouls: 18 / 11

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RSL: Alex Katranis (Yellow Card - 64’) 

RSL: Lineker Rodrigues (Yellow Card - 69’)

NYCFC: Thiago Martins (Yellow Card - 81’) 

NYCFC: Matt Freese (Yellow Card - 90+8’)