Storylines | RSL Eyes Second Road Win of 2026 Against Red-Hot Philadelphia 

By: Isabella Rubis 

After what seemed like a never-ending drought, RSL’s famed “xDawg” mentality was on full display in the 3-0 home victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday, September 26. With the overall MLS winless streak snapped and amidst a newfound confidence, RSL boss Pablo Mastroeni and his squad now focus on yet another Eastern Conference team, one who has been dominant and unbeatable in MLS since May 24. The Claret-and-Cobalt hit the road this Saturday, looking to snap the Philadelphia Union’s run and earn its second road victory of the 2026 MLS season and hopefully improving upon its 1-9-4 (W-L-T) record away from home. 

This week's edition of storylines dives deeper into the dominant victory that snapped RSL’s 13-game MLS winless streak with exclamatory intent, with key players rostered and returning from both injury and international duty as the push for a playoff spot heats up, along with what to expect from the red-hot Philadelphia Union.

A Roster Reloaded and Ready for Road Action

After a long and difficult two-and-a-half month stretch that saw the Claret-and-Cobalt winless in 13 consecutive MLS matches on either side of a Leagues Cup Quarterfinal run, Mastroeni’s men battled on the pitch at America First Field two Saturdays ago, earning its first MLS victory since May 16 in dominant fashion with a 3-0 result against East second-place side New England. Now, with a domestic win under its belt and the first league shutout for RSL Captain and goalkeeper Rafael Cabral since May 13 against Houston, RSL’s roster will now look to bring the same energy into this weekend’s matchup, searching for its first road win since 2026 week three at Atlanta, all the way back on March 7. 

As the lights shone at the Riot, the Claret-and-Cobalt came out with a fierce energy as 19-year-old Aiden Hezarkhani netted a beautiful left-footed shot just two minutes into the match, earning his third goal of 2026 and ending RSL’s 287-minute scoreless streak. The young midfielder has continued to impress in his first full season with the senior team, showcasing speed, high-level footwork and a knack for creativity in the offensive third. The early goal set the tone for RSL in its much-needed victory. 

Along with the early game-winner by the RSL Academy product, the Sept. 26 win saw Spanish rookie Sergi Solans break out of his slump, netting his second-ever MLS brace in the 62nd and 80th minutes, his first scores since August 19. As his first goal hit the back of the net, the 23-year-old standout let out a massive sigh of relief as the score marked his first since five weeks earlier against Dallas. Solans’ two goals in the win were fueled by speed and a sheer will to find the net as his parents sat in the stands, visiting all the way from Lleida, Spain. With the brace, Solans now has an even firmer grip on the 2026 RSL Golden Boot lead with 11 MLS goals (and 15 across all competitions), becoming just the sixth all-time MLS SuperDraft pick ever to accrue double-digit goals as a rookie in the league’s 31-year history. 

While the duo of Solans and Hezarkhani will be crucial to RSL’s success this weekend, the squad is also bolstered by key pieces returning from international duty. Young American midfielders Luca Moisa and Colin Guske will be available, returning from youth callups with the United States U-19 and U-20 squads. Georgian MF Saba Lobjanidze returns from his time with the Georgian National Team, bringing creativity and speed to the pitch, while 2026 FIFA World Cup standout JuanMa Sanabria arrives after international duty with Uruguay, scoring the fifth goal off the bench in an eventual 6-1 win in India. The 2026 FIFA World Cup standout will be welcomed back as a critical left-sided piece, with his service and creation earning him six assists already this season, one of three players tied for second on the team (Guilavogui, 8).

Also looking to return from injury this weekend are two potentially critical attacking pieces, as winger Zach Booth could be available for the first time since his August 15 hamstring injury, while striker Ariath Piol appears poised to return two months earlier than anticipated from his Feb. 28 Achilles tear against Seattle, a game in which he scored the game-winner.

Finally, following an extended visa acquisition process, recently acquired Canadian World Cup DF Luc de Fougerolles and 19-year-old Serbian winger Dušan Žagar will be available for selection for the first time since arriving in Utah. As RSL looks to secure its second-straight victory and second road win of the season, the Claret-and-Cobalt are sporting a more fully-loaded roster than it has seen in weeks, with the potential for strong form and confidence earned in its last match giving the squad a critical chance of turning its hopes into reality.

The Road Opportunity to End Philadelphia’s 12-Game MLS Unbeaten Run

While the Claret-and-Cobalt head east with a renewed confidence, now looking to snap a 12-game road winless streak at a venue that has seen RSL lose just once in seven previous visits, the battle that awaits at Subaru Park will not be an easy one as its opponent has been red-hot since its return to MLS play following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

The Philadelphia Union are on an impressive 12-game unbeaten streak (10 wins, 2 draws) in MLS play, having earned at least one point in every single league match since a 6-4 loss to Miami on May 24. Although the home side has a wealth of momentum and confidence heading into Saturday’s match, history seems to favor RSL. Over the 13 all-time matches played between the two sides since 2010, Real Salt Lake holds a commanding 6-1-6 (W-L-T) record, with the last meeting on April 27, 2024, coming down to a game-winning goal by Greek DF Alex Katranis, who provided the dramatic 89th-minute score to secure three points for the visitors. 

Multiple players for the Union have stepped up in big ways to help lead the squad to its lengthy unbeaten run, with two in particular standing out just above the rest: FW Milan Iloski and 17-year-old MF Cavan Sullivan. 

While the California native Iloski has enjoyed another breakout season for Philadelphia thus far in 2026, netting 16 goals and 5 assists in MLS play. The former RSL Academy player prospered in an impressive collegiate career with the UCLA Bruins, signing with RSL in 2020 on a Homegrown contract and spending time developing with Real Monarchs, then a USL Championship side. Throughout his two seasons with the Club, the forward appeared in 19 Monarchs matches, netting five goals for the second-team side, appearing once in each of the 2020 and 2021 seasons for RSL. 

The 27-year-old will be an important piece to stop as RSL looks to earn points on Saturday, with Iloski’s speed, elite striking ability and creative movements off the ball combined with his tactical ball skills in tight spaces make him a threat for any defense. Alongside Iloski is young talent Sullivan, who has also enjoyed an impressive second professional season in 2026. 

At just 17 years of age, the young midfielder has become an attacking threat with seven goals and 12 assists for the Union throughout its MLS play. Sullivan will be rejoining his teammates following an impressive first stint with the U.S. Men’s National Team, where he became the youngest-ever goalscorer with his debut senior team goal last Saturday in the 3-0 victory over Mexico. With the score, the Philly native became the youngest ever to score for the USMNT at 17 years and five days old. 

As RSL looks to extend its shutout streak and continue the strong form showcased prior to the October FIFA International Window, the defense will need to thwart the attack of the strong Philadelphia offense that has secured 18 goals in its last four matches in order to continue its push for a 2026 playoff spot. 

The cross-conference road matchup against the Philadelphia Union this Saturday, October 10, is scheduled to kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT at Subaru Park in Chester, Penn., with the match streaming on AppleTV. The Claret-and-Cobalt then return to the Wasatch Front for a midweek matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes next Wednesday, October 14. Kickoff for the home match is slated for 7:30 p.m. MT, with tickets available for purchase here.