Sergi Solans continues breakout season as Real Salt Lake tops Burnley, 4-1 in friendly win

SANDY — If the first (friendly) match of the post-FIFA men’s World Cup break is any indication, Sergi Solans is ready to pick up right where he left off with Real Salt Lake.

The rookie striker scored twice as RSL pulled away for a 4-1 win over newly relegated EFL Championship side Burnley FC in front of an announced crowd of 16,766 fans — including several shirtless in the upper deck — Wednesday night at America First Field.

First-time MLS All Star Zavier Gozo also scored for Salt Lake, and Diego Luna converted a penalty kick, and Rafael Cabral stopped a penalty on the other end for the hosts a week before resuming MLS play at Los Angeles FC.

“It was a nice game for the fans, and we knew that we had to perform to be ready for LAFC,” Solans said. “I think we did a really good job; we know what we can do better in terms of possession and not losing the ball in key moments. We have the structure that will give us as many chances as we can create.

“But we’ll continue working on that to prepare for LAFC,” he added. “I’m happy to be scoring goals — but I have to say I’m not happy enough; I could’ve scored more. I had two chances very clearly.”

sergi scores, are we surprised… not one bit 🙂‍↔️ pic.twitter.com/3Li9elXkXT

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 16, 2026

Solans continues breakout season for Real Salt Lake

The rookie from Lleida, Spain by way of the Girona FC academy, Oregon State and UCLA returned from the international break in similar form as the first half of his rookie campaign where he totaled six goals and three assists in 14 games including 10 starts.

Starting atop a first-choice roster, Solans gave Real Salt Lake a lead it wouldn’t give up, latching on to a through ball from RSL Designated Player Morgan Guilavogui with his breakaway speed in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

“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,” said RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni of Solans, admitting that his run of form has been a double-edged sword for the third-place team in the Western Conference.

“I just hope he didn’t play too good,” he added with a laugh. “But I’m supper happy for him. For young players especially, you always anticipate a bit of a dip because the college season leads right into probably the longest season of their lives. To be able to weather the break and come back like he did, I thought he was super sharp in every phase of the game. I couldn’t be happier for him; he’s a great player, but also an incredible human being and a great teammate.”

Florentino Luis pulled one back to equalize for Burnley in the 55th minute. But Gozo put the hosts back in front six minutes later, finishing a sequence from Guilavogui, Luna, JuanMa Sanabria and Solans with a left-footed rip in the 61st minute.

Solans found a second from a cross by Alex Katranis in the 73rd minute, moments before exiting the match for fellow striker Victor Olatunji, and Luna put one past from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute to finish the scoring.

pure cinema pic.twitter.com/aJP1AelBmR

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 16, 2026

Real Salt Lake resumes MLS play at LAFC

Riding a three-match unbeaten streak, RSL (8-4-2, 26 points) returns to league play next Wednesday, July 22 at LAFC.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT on Apple TV and FS1.