Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

Real Salt Lake are coming off a home loss to C.S. Herediano, which means RSL exit the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the earliest opportunity. They now host the Seattle Sounders, who are looking strong in the early stages of 2025. Seattle has won both of their Champions Cup games, and drew with Charlotte in MLS play last weekend.

RSL are dangerously close to looking completely lost this season, and a win this weekend would go a long way to improve that narrative.

Where are the goals?

There were some fun attacking chances, and even one goal, in RSL’s last three games. Their goal against Herediano came from a repeating pattern of Marczuk carrying the ball to the end line and sending a low cross into the box. He found Ajago a few times and one of those chances found the back of the net.

It was a good goal, but the attack has felt one dimensional, especially when Diego Luna is not on the field. Other than taking corners, Diogo Goncalves hasn’t had a major impact this season. The biggest question is if Forster Ajago isn’t starting, who is able to play that position with any kind of success.

Defensive issues

The Sounders have a good attack. They’ve scored 8 goals in 3 games (between MLS and CCC). While they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of those matches, they’ve demonstrated they’re able to find the back of the net.

When RSL’s midfield is working well with their backline, it’s fairly solid. If we see Katranis, Glad, Vera, and Hidalgo start together, that’s a much stronger chance at success, but with guys like Brown and Quinton just not able to cut it at this level, or Vera having a poor showing as he did on Wednesday, then the team simply crumples under the pressure.

Best XI

It’s important to recognize we haven’t seen RSL’s best XI take the field yet. It appears the coaching staff tried to save some players for MLS games and others for Champions Cup, but rather than prioritize one competition over the other, the team is failing at both.

The best XI is Cabral in goal, with Katranis at LB, Glad and Vera at CB, and Hidalgo at RB. Eneli and Ojeda in the middle, with Marczuk at right wing, Luna at the 10, Gonclaves at left wing, and Ajago at the 9.

That’s a step down from the team this time last year and a few of those spots are very thin. It’s unlikely that Mastroeni will play Luna at the 10, as he seems to prefer him on the wing and Gonclaves more central.

RSL’s three games this year have been a blend of those XI players with bench guys, and aside from Pablo Ruiz, many of them aren’t at this level yet.

RSL player availability

Out: Bell (hamstring), MacMath (back)