- RSL lost 1-0 to Charlotte FC despite new strikers' first starts.
- VAR denied RSL a penalty after a handball review involving Tim Ream.
- RSL dominated shots 19-12 but couldn't equalize and remain 10th in West.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The East Coast has not been kind to Real Salt Lake over the last two weekends.
The Claret and Cobalt dropped two games in a row on back-to-back trips to New Jersey and North Carolina, with a 1-0 result at Charlotte FC on Saturday being the most recent.
The referee and VAR played a major role in both road results, with the New York Red Bulls winning on a penalty last week and RSL being denied a penalty on Saturday after VAR sent referee Tori Penso to look at a possible handball on Charlotte and U.S. men's national team center back Tim Ream.
Penso deemed Ream's hand to be in a "natural position" after interfering with a pass by RSL forward Rwan Cruz, who was making his first MLS start alongside fellow new striker signing Victor Olatunji, and thus decided no penalty was needed.
"I'm just bemused at what has occurred in the last couple of games," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "It's not deliberate, but it just seems like we're on the wrong side of these moments."
VAR sends Tori Penso to the monitor for a handball check on Tim Ream in the opening five minutes in Charlotte but his arm is deemed to be in a "natural position" so no penalty. pic.twitter.com/tswAQo6lSc
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) August 16, 2025
During the same break in play around the third minute, Penso gave Charlotte star Wilfried Zaha a yellow card for a tackle on Emeka Eneli, though fans on social media claimed the foul looked worse than a takedown on Diego Luna last week that earned Kyle Duncan a red card for "violent conduct."
After the early drama, Charlotte took advantage of a sliding tackle that earned Justen Glad a yellow card to set up a free kick for Ashley Westwood, which he launched into the box for the opening and only goal of the night from forward Idan Toklomati on a towering header.
"We've got to help ourselves and make plays on both sides of the ball," Mastroeni said. "On all our set pieces, I think we've got to do a better job. We've got to be more aggressive. I've always said in the past, 'Attacking set pieces is about people that are willing to break their neck to score a goal.'"
RSL led Charlotte 19-12 on total shots and 7-2 on shots on goal, but was unable to find the equalizer as goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina came up with seven saves to keep the road team off the score sheet.
The Claret and Cobalt retain their spot as the first team out of the playoffs in 10th place in the West, and welcome top-three team Minnesota United to America First Field next Saturday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m. MDT.
