Young Earthquakes Fan Carried Back To Stands By Rodrigues

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica—San Jose controlled the action against Real Salt Lake in the season opener, but an unexpected guest stole the show after the Earthquakes’ second goal.

RSL opens the 2025 MLS regular season in San Jose against former striker Chicho Arango and the Earthquakes.

Rodrigues makes it two for @SJEarthquakes!

Stay tuned for the special visitor at the end. 😅 pic.twitter.com/z8A8T4a3f3

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025

Rodrigues, a 27-year-old defender out of Brazil, scored on a header set up on a corner set piece. After celebrating with his teammates, Rodrigues noticed a young fan had made their way onto the field,

The defender calmly scooped the child up and returned them to their smiling family.

It was all fun and game for the Earthquakes as they built a 4-0 lead over a punchless Real Salt Lake. Scoring chances have been few and far between for the new-look squad.

Claret & Cobalt part ways with Chicho Arango

After a productive but sometimes tumultuous one-and-a-half-year tenure in Utah, Real Salt Lake dealt the 29-year-old striker to San Jose in early January. The move came after the club had initially spent $6 million to acquire Arango in 2023.

The money proved to be well spent for RSL. For much of the 2024 season, Arango was an MLS Golden Boot contender.

Led by Arango and Andres Gomez, Real’s offense in the first half of the season provided memories that Utah soccer fans won’t soon forget.

Chicho Arango will make his debut for the @SJEarthquakes against his former team. 🍿 @MauriceEdu outlines what Chicho can bring to SJ on This is MLS: https://t.co/SYlKkOqjfH pic.twitter.com/BiIqwEGfHz

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 21, 2025

Arango finished the season with 17 goals and 12 assists. Arango could have walked away with the Golden Boot trophy if it weren’t for a late-season suspension and a loss of momentum for the club.

Arango played 41 games for Real Salt Lake. He scored 23 goals and added 14 assists as one of the most dynamic goal-scoring threats in the league.

RSL introduces 2025 kits

Real Salt Lake will have a new look for 2025, turning the page on last season and focusing on a new era of Claret & Cobalt.

“What we love about our city,” the video begins from the rooftop of a downtown SLC building. “The Grid!”

“It’s more than just street lights and concrete,” the nearly 90-second video continues. “It’s the backbone that shaped our city—the place where we dream. Every square represents the streets that connect us, the people that made us,  and the place we proudly call home. It’s a design that reflects community, connection, and infinite possibilities. That’s the thing about our city. You never know where the grid will take you or who you’ll meet.”

Welcome to Grid City pic.twitter.com/4OtdNeLsOq

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 13, 2025

Each square on the new kit represents the architecturally famous streets that shape Salt Lake, and a unique design in each square depicts the endless possibilities on each city block.

The new kits are available in the RSL team store.

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

RSL opened the 2025 campaign earlier in the week in Champions Cup play. The club picked up a scoreless draw in leg one against C.S. Herediano. Herediano makes the return trip to Utah on Wednesday, February 26 at America First Field in Sandy, Utah.

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram. 

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24. 

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