Zavier Gozo made history in Charlotte on Wednesday night. Now the 19-year-old homegrown star and Real Salt Lake turn their attention to Tigres UANL, who visit America First Field on Tuesday, August 4, at 8 p.m. MT for the Leagues Cup 2026 opener.
The club's official account posted a left-footed goal highlight on Thursday, July 30, a reminder of the finishing RSL will need against a Tigres side that reached the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup final. The match marks the fifth all-time meeting between the clubs. RSL is 6-6-5 against Mexican opponents at home, with visitors outscoring the hosts 24-21 in those combined matches.
Gozo returns from All-Star week
The West Valley-born, Eagle Mountain-raised midfielder logged 27 minutes off the bench in MLS's 4-3 victory over Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday, July 29, becoming the youngest RSL All-Star ever at 19 years, 4 months, and 2 days old.
"It was so much fun, especially to play with the best players in the world," Gozo said after the match. "They told me to keep going, keep fighting, keep smiling and playing the way I have been playing. They've been very encouraging."
As we reported Thursday, Gozo is the 13th All-Star in RSL's 22-year history.
In a fun bit of foreshadowing, Gozo swept Tigres midfielder Gorriarán 3-0 in the opening round of the All-Star Crossbar Challenge before falling to Necaxa's Javier Ruiz in the final.
Attacking form carries the season
Gozo leads RSL in goal contributions this season with six goals and five assists in 16 games. He shares the team's Golden Boot lead with Sergi Solans, who has six goals and three assists. Juan Manuel Sanabria paces the squad with six assists, and Diego Luna has chipped in four goals and three assists. New signing Saba Lobjanidze, acquired from Atlanta United in early July, earned an assist in his RSL debut against LAFC on Wednesday, July 22.
RSL's most recent home match was a 4-1 friendly win over Burnley FC on Wednesday, July 15, in front of 16,766 fans. Solans scored twice, Gozo buried a left-footed goal in the 61st minute, and Luna converted a penalty.
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni praised Gozo after that July 15 match: "The transfer window is open, and teams abroad have been talking about him. But I think the best way to make a case for yourself as a player is to perform the way he did tonight."
Road struggles set up a homecoming
RSL (8-6-2, 26 points, fourth in the Western Conference) has dropped back-to-back road results. The club fell 3-1 at LAFC on Wednesday, July 22, despite a season-high 28 shots. Then came a 2-1 loss at Portland on Saturday, July 25, after Morgan Guilavogui's 31st-minute red card left RSL playing 60 minutes a man down.
"I think we are still a very good team; we've shown that," midfielder Noel Caliskan said after the July 25 Portland loss, per KSL Sports. "We can't get too low after a loss, and stay the course. We have a lot of games left to play."
RSL travels to St. Louis City SC on Saturday, August 1, before returning to Sandy for the Leagues Cup opener.
What's ahead at America First Field
The Tigres match kicks off a stretch of five home games in 15 days. After Tuesday, August 4, RSL hosts Atlante FC on Saturday, August 8, and FC Juárez on Tuesday, August 11, to complete Leagues Cup group play. MLS regular-season action resumes with Minnesota United on Saturday, August 15, and FC Dallas on Saturday, August 22.
RSL enters Leagues Cup ranked 30th of 36 participants. The club is riding a 13-game sellout streak at America First Field, where its record since last June stands at 16-4-2. The tournament winner earns a direct berth to the Round of 16 in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
