Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Real Salt Lake defeated San Diego FC 3-1, ending their home unbeaten streak.
- Diego Luna scored twice, including a penalty, to lead RSL to victory.
- RSL moves into playoff position and faces Vancouver next in their road trip.
SAN DIEGO — Diego Luna led Real Salt Lake to its biggest win of the season Saturday in the city that bears his name.
Expansion side San Diego FC had yet to lose a game at home so far in its inaugural season, but Luna made sure that streak didn't last much longer with a pair of goals in a 3-1 RSL win to move him to a team-best five goals on the year.
"I don't think we can talk about Diego developing anymore — he's the guy," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "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."
The first goal came on a distance strike in first-half stoppage time that split two defenders and sailed past the San Diego keeper. The home team responded minutes later thanks to a penalty called on Alex Katranis, which Chucky Lozano converted for a 1-1 halftime tie.
Luna got a penalty of his own early in the second half after a handball was called on San Diego in the box. The 21-year-old calmly slotted it home for the eventual game-winner in the 54th minute.
Sam Junqua, who subbed into the match in the opening 20 minutes after Brayan Vera left with a concussion, hit another distance shot for RSL in the 66th minute to extend the lead to 3-1 and earn his first goal in Claret and Cobalt.
Right on target from Sam Junqua! 🎯@realsaltlake extend their lead! pic.twitter.com/OOUttgOlRA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 27, 2025
New RSL striker William Agada made his debut immediately after Junqua's goal and had a chance on goal that went over the crossbar a few minutes later. Fellow former Kansas City man Johnny Russell signed with RSL on Friday and made the trip to San Diego, but was not named to the match day roster.
As if a game with a concussion and two penalties wasn't enough, the referee handed out RSL's third red card of the season — though one was rescinded — when Bode Hidalgo was shown a second yellow for time wasting in second-half stoppage time, and the road team closed out its fourth win of the year with 10 men.
RSL has yet to finish a match with a draw this season, having earned four wins and six losses through the first 10 matches of 2025.
The three goals marked the most goals RSL has scored in a match since September of last year, and gave the team's goal total a solid jump from eight to 11 on the season. The win also moves RSL into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"Soccer is a game of momentum," Junqua said. "It's very easy to kind of slip into these slumps when it's going against you, and that can cost your season if you allow it to go on too long. I think that we do a good job of regrouping and reacting when things don't go our way, and proud of how the team did that again tonight."
The team's three-game road trip continues next week with a big challenge at Western Conference leader Vancouver on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. MDT.
