Real Salt Lake Shuts Out D.C. United With Nick Rimando In The House
Jun 14, 2025, 9:44 PM
Real Salt Lake is hosting D.C. United on June 14, 2025. (Brian Preece)
(Brian Preece)
SANDY, Utah – On the day the club honored Hall of Fame goalkeeper Nick Rimando, current keeper Rafael Cabral notched a clean sheet, helping Real Salt Lake to a 2-0 win over visiting D.C. United.
Real Salt Lake (5-10-3, 18 points) hosted D.C. United (4-9-6, 18 points) at America First Field on Saturday, June 14.
back in the win column#RSLvDC | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/8RYyz4jf9W
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 15, 2025
Johnny Russell opened his RSL account with a first-half goal. Zavier Gozo added his second career goal in the second half, benefitting from VAR.
First Half
Playing without Diego Luna and Dominik Marczuk because of national team duty, RSL’s already anemic offense began the match with less punch than usual.
These are the XI lining up against the black & reds#RSLvDC | @Intermountain pic.twitter.com/JxsYbyTsoI
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 15, 2025
Both sides earned corners in the opening six minutes but came away with nothing to show for it.
D.C. United put together a good build 14 minutes in, but a shot from inside the 18-yard box sailed over the crossbar harmlessly.
RSL’s first shot came in the 17th minute on a right-footed rip from Brayan Vera, which Luis Barraza corralled. Moments later, Alexandros Katranis took a shot that Barraza got fingertips on to keep it out of the net.
RELATED: Johnny Russell Gives RSL Early Lead Over D.C. United
Like fine wine. 🍷
Johnny Russell finds the back of the net to give @realsaltlake a first-half lead!
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/qZB90mz75B pic.twitter.com/DljxdSGRMs
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 15, 2025
Johnny Russell got the scoring started for RSL in the 23rd minute.
Designated player Diogo Gonçalves found an unmarked Russell sprinting down the sideline. Russell took the pass, dribbled inside the 18-yard box, and then unleashed a left-footed shot that found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Zavier Gozo had a run at the net in the 54th minute, but excellent defensive pressure kept him off the scoreboard.
RELATED: Real Salt Lake Celebrates Nick Rimando Against D.C. United
Moments after receiving a yellow card, Katranis made a deep run into D.C. United territory. Just before the end line, Katranis sent a pass across the face of the goal that none of his teammates could catch up to. The ball rolled out of play without another touch.
An already physical match threatened to turn chippy as both teams began showing visible frustration with the officials midway through the half.
Gozo appeared to get taken down, but a no-call drew the ire of an irate fan base.
forever a part of claret & cobalt ❤️💙#RSL | @NickRimando pic.twitter.com/bwTwq3bpZo
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 15, 2025
Minutes later, Gozo had a goal taken off the scoreboard thanks to a late offside flag.
A VAR review determined that Gozo was onside, giving Real Salt Lake a 2-0 lead with just over ten minutes of regulation remaining. It was the second goal of the season for the 18-year-old West Valley City native.
Another from Gozo 🔥 #RSL https://t.co/wZ8p7jU7sV
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) June 15, 2025
Ari Piol thought he had his second goal of the year in the 88th minute, but VAR determined he was offside, nullifying the goal.
Twelve minutes of stoppage time couldn’t help D.C. United crack the RSL defensive code.
The Claret & Cobalt held on for a 2-0 win.
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake faces Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, June 28. Kickoff at Children’s Mercy Park is at 6:30 p.m. MT.
All Major League Soccer games are broadcast on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.
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, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
