Student meets master as Real Salt Lake hosts resurgent San Jose Earthquakes

SANDY — With six matches remaining and Real Salt Lake 4 points adrift of the postseason line, Wednesday night’s meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes offers little margin for error.

It also brings a reunion between RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni and one of the most influential figures in his playing career.

San Jose head coach Bruce Arena managed Mastroeni on the United States national team, including at the 2002 World Cup, when the Americans reached the quarterfinals. Twenty-four years later, the student faces the master with both teams chasing very different postseason goals.

The Earthquakes arrive fourth in the Western Conference with 46 points, looking to maintain a position that would give them home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. RSL sits 11th with 32 points, four behind ninth-place LA Galaxy.

Ninth place would earn Salt Lake a spot in the postseason play-in match against the eighth-place team, with the winner advancing to face the Western Conference’s top seed in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.

But San Jose’s place in the standings doesn’t tell the full story of a turbulent summer.

Setting the tone for match day 🤝 https://t.co/6Jf94UTWsW

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 14, 2026

Arena’s tactical reset

The Earthquakes are on a seven-match unbeaten run, winning three and drawing four, after losing four straight games in August.

Those four defeats included a 5-1 home loss to Minnesota United on August 22. San Jose conceded 13 goals during the losing streak.

One week later, Arena changed course.

Against Houston on August 29, San Jose deployed a three-center-back formation for the first time this season. The Earthquakes held the Dynamo without a shot on target in a scoreless draw, beginning their current unbeaten streak.

The tactical adjustment coincided with the arrival of Eduard Löwen, acquired from St. Louis CITY SC three days earlier.

Löwen, a central figure in St. Louis’ Western Conference-leading inaugural season in 2023, gives San Jose an experienced playmaker capable of dictating tempo, delivering dangerous set pieces and creating from midfield.

His influence was unmistakable September 26, when he contributed a goal and two assists in a 3-1 victory over Portland.

San Jose is coming off a 1-1 road draw at Colorado on Saturday night. While the Earthquakes have improved their defensive organization since Arena’s formation change, the Rapids still found opportunities, forcing San Jose goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. into nine saves.

Judd leads a star-studded attack

Former German international Timo Werner headlines the Earthquakes’ roster. The 30-year-old forward arrived from RB Leipzig in January, bringing a résumé that includes 57 appearances for Germany, Premier League experience and a 2021 Champions League title.

Despite Werner’s pedigree and Designated Player salary, San Jose’s leading scorer is former LA Galaxy draft pick Preston Judd, with 15 goals and 3 assists.

Werner has also contributed 6 goals and 9 assists, while homegrown midfielder Niko Tsakiris leads the club in assists with 11.

Tsakiris missed Saturday’s draw at Colorado with an upper-body injury, making his availability for Wednesday an open question.

For RSL, exploiting the space around San Jose’s wingbacks while preventing Löwen from controlling midfield will be crucial.

Reinforcements arrive for RSL

Salt Lake’s 2-1 defeat at Philadelphia on Saturday offered encouraging signs despite the result.

RSL won 57 of 105 duels against Philadelphia, including 58% of ground duels, and received contributions from several players returning to action.

Luc de Fougerolles made an aggressive first appearance for the club as a halftime substitute, providing the pass that set up Saba Lobjanidze’s late goal. Zach Booth and Ari Piol also returned from lengthy injury absences.

For Piol, Saturday marked his first appearance since February, when he scored against Seattle before rupturing his Achilles tendon later in the same match. His return came approximately two months ahead of his anticipated recovery schedule.

“A lot of it was out of my control, to be honest,” Piol said after Tuesday’s training. “My body just responded really well to the different demands. I took what I was eating very seriously. I took my recovery very seriously, and it’s obviously paid off now.”

Piol was quick to recognize the people who helped him through the rehabilitation process.

“All the staff here at RSL, they’ve been very good. They’ve been facilitating everything,” Piol said. “Whenever I’ve had questions, they’ve been able to answer them, if it’s late at night or if I come in early in the morning. So, to be honest, everyone in the medical staff has been able to help me.”

Now he wants to help RSL make a late push toward the postseason.

“It’s no secret we’re not where we wanna be,” Piol said after Tuesday’s training. “And I hope that with me coming in, I can bring some new life, some energy, some motivation, ‘cause I’ve been deprived of football for so long.”

Saba isn’t short on confidence

Lobjanidze has provided an attacking spark since joining RSL this summer, scoring three goals in his last six appearances, including Saturday’s late strike against Philadelphia.

“Doesn’t matter, like, I’m starting or I’m on the bench,” he said after training on Tuesday. “If I will play one minute, like, my goal is like, to do something offensively to help the team.”

Wednesday gives Mastroeni a chance to take three points from the coach who once guided him on the world’s biggest stage.

And despite RSL’s precarious position, Lobjanidze expressed little doubt about Wednesday’s outcome.

“I’m 100% know we will win this tomorrow game,” he said.

Match information

Who: Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes

When: Wednesday, October 14, 7:30 p.m. MT

Where: America First Field, Sandy, Utah

Watch: Apple TV

Standings: RSL 11th, 32 points (9-14-5); San Jose fourth, 46 points (13-8-7)