These kids are alright: Real Salt Lake academy working in 2-1 win over Seattle
Aiden Hezarkhani became the ninth-youngest player in club history to score a goal at 18 years, 245 days, and Zavier Gozo directly set up another one in a 2-1 win over the Sounders.
SANDY, Utah — Another version of Zavier Gozo probably could have (would have? should have?) taken the shot.
But there was the Real Salt Lake breakout star of 2025, sprinting towards a long ball played over the top from defender Philip Quinton less than three minutes into the second half of RSL’s home opener Saturday against Seattle.
The 18-year-old cut slight inside to his left, blitzed past the Sounders’ defense, pounced head-first into the penalty area with only Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas in front of him.
And just before he got to the six-yard box, Gozo laid off a deft touch with his right foot directly into the path of Ari Piol that put RSL up, 2-0 in the 47th minute.
It was Piol’s second career goal in MLS play, his first match-winner as Salt Lake went on to hold off the Sounders 2-1, and his first since March 8, 2025.
“It was a well-executed ball from Philip and a fantastic run,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. “But the best thing about that play was the decision Gozo made.
“That, to me, says a lot about his growth as a younger player,” he added. “Before, I think he would’ve tried to leather that when he had his teammate. That, for me, is the best aspect of that play. But it was well done from Philip, as well.”
RSL didn’t just put its own stamp of approval on a 14-win, 3-draw unbeaten run at home against the Sounders that dates back to November 2012. They did it by putting the RSL Academy seal across the victory.
In addition to Gozo’s assist, fellow RSL Academy product Aiden Herzarkhani scored his first career goal in his second MLS start (first at home). The 18-year-old from Irvine, California who made his MLS debut last year after signing a pro contract in the summer of 2024 had six goals and four assists in 21 appearances for Real Monarchs, and seems ready to take the next step while being an opportunity to fill in for an injured-and-otherwise core of veterans that includes Diego Luna, Victor Olatunji, Deandre Yedlin, Emeka Eneli and Juan Jose Arias.
“We got, you know, a couple of teenagers out there, and you look across the field and you have probably one of the most experienced, most quality groups in the league,” Mastroeni said of Seattle, which finished fifth in the West in 2025.
“It’s really easy to make excuses as to why you don’t win games,” he added. “The one thing that i can tell you is that group in there won’t ever make any excuses.”
RSL started three players age 18 or younger Saturday night, the second-straight match it started as many teenagers — in addition to fellow homegrowns Zach Booth (22) and Justen Glad (29), who is now the oldest homegrown player in MLS history (just kidding … maybe).
But the training and preparation of the RSL Academy was on full display, including in Aiden Hezarkhani’s first goal. The 18-year-old scored his debut goal for the first team when he slid home a composed, left-footed finish from Juan Manuel Sanabria to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
Moments earlier, fellow homegrown Luca Moisa — still just 17 years old (until April) — won a loose ball near the top of the penalty area, found Sanabria on the left side, and set up the go-ahead goal.
From the academy training ground to a debut goal in front of 20,660 fans at America First Field — with a touch from a Uruguayan international in between — the journey of the ball into the back of the net was almost emblematic of Salt Lake’s pathway of “winning together through development.”
“It was a great ball,” Hezarkhani said of Moisa’s secondary assist. “And I think that’s something that I just expect from Luca after playing with him for quite a bit now.
“It’s no surprise to me that he’s had these great performances, and he’s kind of shining under the light.”
Beyond the academy, Hezarkhani logged 36 appearances including 28 starts for Real Monarchs the past two seasons in MLS NEXT Pro. That overlaps well with Moisa’s 25 starts in 38 appearances for Mark Lowry’s side, including an MLS NEXT Pro Playoff loss to Minnesota United 2 last fall.
“It was good because you play sometimes against first-team players that come down with other teams, and you get to add training experience with our first-team players,” Hezarkhani said. “It helps you take that first step into the first team, and not feel out of place.”
And for the record: the next season of Real Monarchs, which signed 11 full-time players ahead of the 2026 season, kicks off MLS NEXT Pro play Sunday at 3:30 p.m. MST against North Texas SC at Zions Bank Stadium.
