Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- RSL secured a 2-0 win over D.C. United to end a seven-game winless streak.
- The clean sheet victory coincided with Nick Rimando's Ring of Honor night at America First Field.
- Johnny Russell and Zavier Gozo scored, making Gozo as the youngest MLS player with multiple goals this season.
SANDY — Nick Rimando had an MLS record 154 clean sheets in his career; and on the night Real Salt Lake added his name to the "Ring of Honor," his former team honored that number with its fourth clean sheet of the season.
RSL snapped a seven-game winless streak and got its first home win since April 5 in a 2-0 result over one of Rimando's other former teams, D.C. United, at America First Field on Saturday.
"I hope one can see my name and it's not just the games that they remember," Rimando told the crowd before the match when his name was unveiled alongside Jason Kreis and Javier Morales. "I hope it inspires and it stands for determination, commitment, belief and the courage to chase whatever their dreams may be."
Nick Rimando's name is officially unveiled in the Ring of Honor at America First Field, joining RSL legends Jason Kreis and Javier Morales pic.twitter.com/4QbUxgvX46
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) June 15, 2025
Johnny Russell got the scoring started for RSL in the 23rd minute with his first goal since signing with the club, and Zavier Gozo sealed the win in the 77th minute with his second goal of the season.
The goal made the 18-year-old Gozo the youngest player in MLS with multiple goals this season, and lifted him to second on the team in goals this season after Diego Luna's eight.
The RSL defense held on and forced D.C. to miss seven of its eight total shots to shut out the storied Eastern Conference team in a rare visit out west. Both teams were missing their leading goal scorers in the match, with Luna in California for Sunday's USMNT match against Trinidad and Tobago and Christian Benteke injured for D.C.
"We're missing a few key players," RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "I think the guys that stepped in there today, both that started and came in the game, had a really good performance as a collective."
Russell's goal came in his first start for RSL, filling in for the absent Luna, with the assist going to Diogo Goncalves, who was back in the starting lineup after missing several games due to a heel injury.
Like fine wine. 🍷
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 15, 2025
Johnny Russell finds the back of the net to give @realsaltlake a first-half lead!
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/qZB90mz75Bpic.twitter.com/DljxdSGRMs
Goncalves, the highest-paid player on RSL's roster, now sits in second on the team in assists with three, which is just behind Luna's four. The Portuguese attacking midfielder played in a more wide position for RSL on Saturday, where he seemed to thrive after some early-season struggles.
The win kicked off the second half of the MLS season for RSL and moved the club up a spot in the Western Conference standings to 12th place, 4 points behind Colorado in the final playoff spot.
The Claret and Cobalt get another bye week before heading to Kansas City on June 28, when Russell and William Agada will make their homecoming visit to their former club.
"I'm sure it'll be sort of mixed emotions, as there are some people that I'm really looking forward to seeing," Russell said of the return. "But, generally, during that 90 minutes, I don't care. And they know that, the fans know that — that I will do whatever I can, whatever it takes for my team."
