- Aiden Hezarkhani scored his first MLS goal in Real Salt Lake's 2-1 win.
- Ariath Piol scored the game-winner but later suffered a potential Achilles injury.
- RSL maintained a 15-year home unbeaten streak against Seattle with Rafael Cabral's help.
SANDY — If Real Salt Lake's home opener in the club's 22nd season in Major League Soccer is to be believed, the kids are all right.
At least for one night.
Aiden Hezarkhani scored the first goal of his MLS career in his first start at home for the first team, and Ariath Piol added the eventual game-winner less than three minutes into the second half as Real Salt Lake took all 3 points from a 2-1 win over Seattle in the club's home opener Saturday evening.
Rafael Cabral made seven saves to preserve the win for Salt Lake, including one on Snyder Brunell's attempt in the closing seconds of the match that guaranteed a victory over Seattle for the 15th consecutive season.
With the win, Real Salt Lake (1-1-0, 3 points) hasn't lost to the Sounders at home since 2012 — a streak that hasn't tempered a once-fiery rivalry, at least from the emotions displayed Saturday night.
Hezarkhani took advantage of the homegrown teenager's second consecutive start for the first team, putting Salt Lake in front with one touch from Juan Manuel Sanabria's short cross into the box to go up 1-0 in the 23rd minute.
Luca Moisa, the fellow RSL homegrown making his own second-straight start in midfield, initiated the play with a touch to Sanabria on the left side of the penalty before the 25-year-old Uruguayan centered his cross to Hezarkhani for the goal.
"I think it was just being in the right place at the right time," Hezarkhani said of the goal. "Juan played a great ball in and I just got lucky that it went to me at the moment. So I just had to keep my composure and get it on frame."
Aiden Hezarkhani hammers home his first MLS goal for Salt Lake! 👊 pic.twitter.com/btxpH0AKSd
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 1, 2026
Hezarkhani had an "unbelievable" preseason, RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said, even if the teenager had yet to score. But it was also only a matter of time before he found the back of the net, he noted.
Hezarkhani said he has a goal of 10 goal contributions this year, as he makes the jump from Real Monarchs to the full-time first team this season.
He's well on his way, too.
"Attacking-wise, he's dialed in," Mastroeni added. "To show up in that spot and execute the way he did, I couldn't be happier for him. He's going to be a top player in this league."
Utah native Zavier Gozo — one of three teenagers to start for the club for a second straight week alongside former RSL Academy teammates Hezarkhani and Moisa — and doubled the advantage less than three minutes after halftime, leading a counter attack from Philip Quinton's deep boot upfield in the 47th minute before crossing late to Piol and putting the hosts up 2-0.
Cristian Roldan pulled one back seven minutes later, nodding home a corner kick from former Salt Lake midfielder Albert Rusnak with a wide-open header to pull the Sounders back into the match.
Newly signed Designated Player striker Morgan Guilavogui made his RSL debut Saturday night, less than a week after finalizing his visa before re-joining the team in Salt Lake City and entering as a 72nd-minute substitute alongside rookie forward Sergi Solans.
But just 10 minutes later, the club was rocked when Piol fell to the ground grabbing at his lower leg. The 21-year-old Australian striker had to be helped from the pitch by the medical staff, unable to put pressure on his leg as he exited for Dominik Marczuk in the 82nd minute.
Mastroeni said after the match the medical staff said he suffered an Achilles tendon injury, though the extent was unknown as he heartbreakingly sat with the team with a towel over his face.
"He doesn't feel good about it," the coach said of Piol. "Hopefully the news is better than we expect."
RSL travels to Atlanta next week before returning to America First Field to host Austin FC on March 14 (7:30 p.m. MST, Apple TV).
