Diego Luna is still an unfinished product. That's a good thing for RSL
Luna scored two goals to help Real Salt Lake hand San Diego FC a first-of-its-kind home loss, 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium in the expansion side’s inaugural season.
Whatever percentage Diego Luna has reached of his overall potential — and spoiler alert, it may not be terribly high — it was enough Saturday evening to do something no MLS team had done before.
Luna scored two goals, including the go-ahead penalty kick in the 54th minute, to help Real Salt Lake hand San Diego FC a first-of-its-kind home loss, 3-1 at Snapdragon Stadium in the expansion side’s inaugural season.
That San Diego (4-4-2, 14 points) lost three in a row is less of a concern for the subject of this newsletter. For RSL (4-6-0, 12 points), the win serves as a critical bounceback falling consecutive losses to Nashville SC and Toronto FC — and ahead of a three-match road trip that continues next week at Vancouver.
With due respect to his teammates, that bounceback win doesn’t happen without Luna. The 21-year-old rising U.S. international has had a way in his fourth season since joining Salt Lake from USL Championship side El Paso, and his five goals and two assists in nine matches is well on its way towards shattering last year’s career-high 8g/12a in 31 games played.
There’s little doubt that Luna’s reached another level. But at 21, he’s not a finished product. Nowhere near, he’ll admit.
And that’s exciting for the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year with European ambitions and a heart of gold.
“I don’t think it’s the best I’ve played, and I don’t think it’s the best I will play,” Luna told Apple TV after the match. “I think there’s another level to me … and I’m starting to get there.
“There’s a lot that I need to improve on,” he added. “But we’ll get there.”
Building. Improving. Leveling up.
The sky — or, perhaps more aptly, the moon — is the limit for Luna, the former “Moon Boy” of El Paso who grew into “Moon Man” in Salt Lake City, where he learned how to grow up both on the pitch, in the community, and in his family life as he welcomed the birth of his first child.
But it’s probably time to stop asking if/when Diego Luna has “arrived.” Truthfully, he already has.
“He’s the guy,” said RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni, who won his 100th game with the club Saturday. “He’s the guy that plays with the chip on his shoulder.
“He’s one of our best defenders. He’s obviously the guy that’s putting the ball in the back of the net. He’s doing it all for our group.”
He’s also trying to bring his teammates up with him. In scoring his second brace of the season, Luna pointed out Zavier Gozo, the 18-year-old from Eagle Mountain who made his first career start for RSL just 18 months after his club debut in late 2023.
There was also William Agada, the former Sporting Kansas City striker nicknamed “Willie” who came off the bench after signing Wednesday. Ditto for Noel Caliskan, the German-born midfielder who spent much of his time with Real Monarchs before debuting this season in San Diego, and Sam Junqua, who became the first RSL sub to score this year after replacing Brayan Vera in the 19th minute following a serious head injury to the latter.
It all led to a crucial win for Salt Lake on Saturday — but all led by Luna, the Moon Boy, a new generation’s version of El Maestro (apologies, Javi).
RSL will be back next Saturday to face West-leading Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT at BC Place.
SD 1 : 3 RSL
GOALSCORING SUMMARY
RSL: Diego Luna (Unassisted) 45’ +1
SD: Chucky Lozano (Penalty) 45’ +6
RSL: Diego Luna (Penalty) 54’
RSL: Sam Junqua (Unassisted) 66’
LINEUPS
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Rafael Carbal; Bode Hidalgo, Philip Quinton, Brayan Vera (Sam Junqua, 19’), Alex Katranis; Emeka Eneli ©, Braian Ojeda; Zavier Gozo, Diego Luna (Tyler Wolff, 89’), Diogo Gonçalves (Noel Caliskan, 90’+3); Ari Piol (William Agada, 67’)
Subs not used: Mason Stajduhar, Pablo Ruiz, Nelson Palacio, Lachlan Brook, Jesus Barea
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
San Diego FC (4-3-3): Cj Dos Santos; Willy Kumado (Jasper Loffelsend, 77’), Paddy McNair, Christopher McVey, Luca Bombino (Hamady Diop, 67’); Anibal Godoy (Alex Mighten, 67’), Jeppe Tverskov © , Luca De La Torre (Alejandro Alvarado, 83’); Anders Dreyer, Onni Valakari (Milan Iloski, 77’), Hirving Lozano
Subs not used: Pablo Sisniega, Tomas Angel, Emmanuel Boateng, Ian Pilcher
Head Coach: Mikey Varas
Stats Summary: SD / RSL
Shots: 18 / 11
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 2 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 19 / 19
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Alex Katranis (Yellow Card - 45’)
SD: Luca Bombino (Yellow Card - 56’)
SD: Hirving Lozano (Yellow Card - 73’)
RSL: Philip Quinton (Yellow Card - 83’)
RSL: Diogo Gonçalves (Yellow Card - 86’)
SD: Alejandro Alvarado (Yellow Card - 87’)
RSL: Bode Hidalgo (Yellow Card - 90’+3)
RSL: Bode Hidalgo (Red Card - 90’+6)