By: Avery Romney
With momentum building early in the 2026 season, Real Salt Lake (2-1-0, 6 pts., 7th West) returns home to Sandy this weekend looking to extend its two-match win streak. Visitors Austin FC (1-1-1, 4 pts., 10th West) now arrive on the Wasatch Front for the highly-anticipated matchup this Saturday, March 14. For just the second time this year, fans will fill America First Field in standing-room-only fashion to rally behind the Claret-and-Cobalt, the Club seeking a three-game win streak, something accomplished just once in 2025.
Looking Back to Look Forward
Real Salt Lake showcased its attacking potential yet again in last Saturday’s road win at Atlanta, scoring three goals in an 18-minute late first-half stretch. The youth of the Club again stepped up to lead the charge, sparking the quick-scoring stretch that secured the 3-2 win.
Goals from rookie Sergi Solans and 18-year-old Academy homegrown Aiden Hezarkhani and Zavier Gozo ignited the match. Spanish striker Solans - starting for the first time - opened the scoring in the 24th minute, coolly finishing his first professional goal after a precise through-ball from designated player Morgan Guilavogui, who recorded his first assist for the club. The attacking momentum continued just three minutes later as Hezarkhani doubled the lead with his second goal of the season - an impressive strike after taking a Solans flick atop the box into the roof of the goal near-post. Then, in the final minutes of the first half, just 120 seconds after Atlanta cut the RSL lead in half, DF Philip Quinton launched a long ball that found Gozo’s feet, who controlled the play down the right wing before cutting back inside to finish with a left-foot strike, ultimately providing what would become the game-winner.
Several newly-acquired RSL players have already made an impact early in the season. Guilavogui’s pace and creativity sparked multiple chances throughout his first feature in the starting XI, highlighting the early chemistry forming within RSL’s attack. Solans’ first goal set the tone for the offensive run that followed, yet another example of the young core stepping up in key moments.
Saturday’s game again saw at least four Academy starts for a third consecutive week, with homegrown veteran Justen Glad, alongside 18-year-old offensive players Gozo and Hezarkhani, and 17-year-old defender Luca Moisa. Rookie midfielder Griffin Dillon also made his debut for Real Salt Lake in Georgia last weekend, marking the club’s eighth debutant in the 2026 campaign, and the seventh to make his MLS debut. The continued presence of these young players emphasizes the club’s growing trust in its Academy pipeline, and Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s confidence in the next generation of talent.
A Familiar Western Conference Rival
Saturday marks another chapter in the growing MLS matchup between RSL and Austin FC. Since Austin joined the league in 2021, the two Western Conference sides have met 11 times, with RSL holding a slight edge with five wins compared to Austin’s three. These two teams have produced several high-scoring and tightly contested matches in their history. One of the most dominant performances in the series came on June 1, 2024, when RSL defeated Austin 5-1 at America First Field, powered by a hat trick from Cristian Arango and a brace from Anderson Julio.
RSL and Austin FC have also seen several close results in recent seasons. In June 2023, RSL secured a 2-1 road victory in Austin, while the teams later played to a 2-2 draw at Q2 Stadium in September 2024 after RSL had built a two-goal lead. In May of last year, the clubs split points as they came to a 1-1 draw in Austin, leaving the 2025 season a more tightly contested matchup series and setting the stage for another exciting meeting this weekend. Austin also eliminated RSL in the 2022 playoffs via shootout after the teams finished 2-2 after 120 minutes, RSL playing a man down for the final 67 grueling minutes following a Rubio Rubin ejection.
Eye on the Opposition: Sizing Up the Verde
Austin arrives in Sandy with a roster blended with established players and emerging MLS contributors. The Verde’s attack is powered by designated players such as Brandon Vasquez (MLS All-Star in 2025), Myrto Uzuni, and former Orlando man Facundo Torres, while esteemed goalkeeper Brad Stuver anchors the defense. With dynamic attackers and experienced midfielders, Austin presents a challenging opponent capable of creating scoring chances from multiple areas of the pitch.
Under Head Coach Nico Estévez, Austin reached the MLS Cup Playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup final in 2025, highlighting the club’s growth in recent seasons and its ability to compete in tight matchups. The Claret-and-Cobalt’s attacking power will be put to the test, yet the club’s growing chemistry and early-season momentum could prove decisive as it looks to extend its victorious streak on home turf.
Protecting the Wasatch Front
With the Wasatch Mountains as the backdrop to the rivalry, Real Salt Lake returns to America First Field ready to defend its home pitch and build on its early-season success. The Claret-and-Cobalt will look to combine the energy of their youngsters with the experience of valued veterans - USMNT star playmaker Diego Luna and Nigerian striker Victor Olatunji could appear for the first time in 2026 - seeking to deliver scoring opportunities while maintaining a rooted and stable defense. If RSL can execute its attacking game plan and control the tempo in front of a vibrant home crowd, as it has done against Austin in past years, Saturday could mark another step forward in the team’s strong 2026 start.
The home match is set to kick off at America First Field at 7:30 PM MT, where fans can expect an electric atmosphere and 90 minutes of intense action. Tickets remain available for purchase here.
