Big Bolas: Luna's brace helps Real Salt Lake snap skid with 2-0 win over LA Galaxy
Luna scored a pair of goals five minutes apart to help RSL snap a two-game losing skid with a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy in front of 19,304 fans in Sandy, Utah.
One day after Diego Luna made a statement with his headwear for Professional Male Athlete of the Year at Utah’s 13th annual State of Sport Awards, the cowboy hat-clad Luna made a bigger statement on the field.
Luna scored a pair of goals five minutes apart to help RSL snap a two-game losing skid with a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy in front of 19,304 fans in Sandy, Utah.
Rafa Cabral made one save to keep the shutout for Salt Lake, his third in an RSL kit and second since arriving in Major League Soccer.
With coaches from the U.S. men’s national team assistant Miguel D'Agostino on hand to watch the rising MLS star, the 21-year-old midfield moved into the center of Salt Lake’s attacking midfield trio — with Diogo Gonçalves and Dominik Marczuk on either side of him, underneath striker Ariath Piol — and delivered his first brace since July 15, 2023.
His two goals in the first half made him the youngest player in RSL club history with at least 15 goals and 15 assists (21 years, 210 days).
To have it all happen with his family in town to celebrate his State of Sport award was all the motivation he needed.
“Yesterday was a lot of nerves; I’ve never given a speech in front of that many people,” Luna said. “But also excitement for the weekend, having my family in town, coming to the game and being able to score two goals — and now to enjoy the afternoon.
“It’s a good weekend, and I’m happy.”
In games decided by “moments,” to borrow a word from RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni, Luna provided a pair of magical moments less than five minutes apart in the first half against the struggling reigning champs.
Luna opened the scoring in the 21st minute, taking a cross inside the box from Alex Katranis before opening the scoring inside the near post to put the hosts up 1-0 over the defending MLS Cup champions who started the season 0-5-2 in MLS play.
But Luna wasn’t done there. The U.S. international broke through again just five minutes later, when he picked off a pass from the goalkeeper inside the box and slotted doubled the advantage with a single touch to stretch Salt Lake’s lead to 2-0 to improve to 3-4-0 on the season (9 points).
“When he got here, he was always the player who would make the pass or the pass before the assist,” Mastroeni said. “And when we’re not scoring goals, the important thing is he is getting in areas like that second goal.
“If Diego’s not in that spot, those plays don’t happen.'“
Luna admitted both goals happen after he “took a risk,” of jumping into the box before a pair of balls landed at his feet — “and I was able to put them away,” he said.
In other words, it was less tactical and more mental, which was the focus of the week. And scoring twice will only help that approach seven games into the 2025 MLS season.
“Results validate the work we do during the week,” Mastroeni said. “This week, we did about 98% competing and 2% tactics.
“Mentality doesn’t come about from somebody speaking. Mentality comes about by creating a competitive environment, and those guys going at it on Tuesday and Wednesday. That’s where the secret sauce is."
RSL 2 : 0 LA
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY
RSL: Diego Luna (Alex Katranis) 21’: Diogo Gonçalves wins the ball just outside of the LA 18-yard-box, passes it off to Alex Katranis on the left side of the box who puts in a low pass towards the penalty spot and finds Diego Luna who takes two touches to set himself up and shoots it into the bottom right of the net.
RSL: Diego Luna (Unassisted) 26’: Katranis passes the ball to Ari Piol into the left side of the LA box and puts in a low cross, a Galaxy defender interrupts the delivery but Luna gets a hold of it and uses one touch with his left foot to shoot it into the back of the net.
MATCH NOTES
With today’s victory, RSL snapped a two-game losing streak - something which has occurred just 12 times in 148 games during the Pablo Mastroeni era - and avoided a three-game slide for the first time since Aug./Sept., 2023
Luna’s brace today was his second during his RSL / MLS career, last scoring twice in a game back on July 15, 2023, when he earned MLS Player of the Matchday honors prior to his U-20 Youth World Championships in Argentina
Today’s clean sheet was RSL’s third across nine matches in all competitions, with GK Rafael Cabral - the lone player to have appeared in all 810 minutes this season - notching three shutouts
First-round MLS SuperDraft pick Jesús Barea made his home debut for RSL today, after appearing for the first time in MLS with the final 45 minutes at Minnesota last week
With his start today, Justen Glad makes his 284th Club appearance across all competitions, now ranking third all-time in RSL’s MLS regular-season history (249 appearances / 241 starts)
LINEUPS
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Rafael Cabral; Alex Katranis (Sam Junqua, 84’), Justin Glad, Brayan Vera, Bode Hidalgo; Braian Ojeda, Emeka Eneli ©; Diogo Gonçalves (Jesus Barea, 69’), Diego Luna, Dominik Marczuk (Tyler Wolff, 78’), Ariath Piol (Zavier Gozo, 78’)
Subs not used: Pablo Ruiz, Nelson Palacio, Lachlan Brook, Philip Quinton, Mason Stajduhar,
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
LA Galaxy (4-3-3): John McCarthy; Harbor Tarczynski-Miller, Emiro Garces, Zanka (Eriq Zavaleta, 46’), Julian Aude (John Nelson, 75); Tucker Lepley, Ruben Ramos Jr (Isaiah Parente, 46’), Edwin Carrillo; Diego Fagúndez © (Elijah Wynder, 59’), Miguel Berry, Joseph Paintsil (Matheus Nascimento, 59’)
Subs not used: Novak Micovic, Miki Yamane, Christian Ramirez, Ascel Essenque
Head Coach: Greg Vanney
Stats Summary: RSL / LA
Shots: 7 / 9
Shots on Goal: 2 / 1
Saves: 1 / 0
Corner Kicks: 4 / 1
Fouls: 17 / 10
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Brayan Vera (Yellow Card - 2’)
RSL: Alex Katranis (Yellow Card - 70’)
LA: Tucker Lepley (Yellow Card - 72’)
RSL: Dominik Marczuk (Yellow Card - 73’)
LA: Zanka (Yellow Card - 89’)