Real Salt Lake Overcomes Disappointment To Earn Two Points In PKs
Jul 30, 2025, 10:07 PM | Updated: Jul 31, 2025, 11:31 am
Rafael Cabral lifts Real Salt Lake to a penalty kick win over Club América in the Leagues Cup opener at America First Field on Wednesday, July 30. (Courtesy Tanner Tripp)
(Courtesy Tanner Tripp)
SANDY, Utah – Club América stunned the home crowd in the final seconds of regulation, but couldn’t maintain momentum in penalty kicks. The visitors earned a point, succumbing to Rafael Cabral in penalties, allowing Real Salt Lake to earn two points.
RSL hosted Club América at America First Field on Wednesday, July 30.
Rafa Cabral with his third PK save of the night to be the hero as @realsaltlake wins the shootout #RSL | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/TwBsgco345
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) July 31, 2025
Diego Luna and William Agada scored for Real Salt Lake. Brian Rodríguez and Érick Sánchez scored for Club América.
First Half
Pablo Mastroeni dove into his reserves for the club’s first Leagues Cup match.
Our starters for game one#RSLvAME | @LeaguesCup pic.twitter.com/sVCGReP3Y6
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 31, 2025
The visitors nearly broke through in the opening minutes but came up empty. Rafael Cabral made a diving save at the post to keep things level.
RSL had its chance seconds later, but a whistle for a hard collision with the keeper stopped play.
RELATED: Rebound Goal Gives Real Salt Lake Early Leagues Cup Lead
Diego Luna pounces on a rebound and fires @realsaltlake up at home 1-0 over @ClubAmerica #RSL | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/hcG4L69duY
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) July 31, 2025
RSL struck first in the 16th minute.
Diego Luna’s first attempt was deflected, but the defense couldn’t corral the rebound inside the six-yard box. Luna’s momentum took him in for an easy goal and a 1-0 lead.
Both sides kept applying pressure throughout the first half. The keepers were under constant fire as the defenses in front of them faltered.
OH MY RAFA CABRAL 😮💨💪
Watch @ClubAmerica vs. @realsaltlake live con #MLSSeasonPass en Apple TV 📺 https://t.co/0Qfmuc5vzw pic.twitter.com/3mNmdH4jhe
— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) July 31, 2025
Club América clawed back even on a free kick in the 42nd minute. Brian Rodriguez fooled everybody with a free kick into the top right corner.
¡GOLAAAAZO DE BRIAN RODRÍGUEZ! 🕺
¡GOOOOOOOL DEL RAYITO! ⚡️
¡GOOOOL DEL AMÉRICA! 🦅
⚽️ América 1 vs. 1 Real Salt Lake pic.twitter.com/IBWsq8IUs6— Club América (@ClubAmerica) July 31, 2025
William Agada wouldn’t allow his club to remain down, beating Luis Malagón with a stoppage-time goal to grab a 2-1 lead.
RELATED: Rebound Goal Gives Real Salt Lake Early Leagues Cup Lead
Give the goal to William Agada who gets credited for the initial header and @realsaltlake is up 2-1 at the halftime break#RSL | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/HZLX8PvuHZ
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) July 31, 2025
RSL took the one-goal lead into the break.
Second Half
The offensive fireworks slowed in the early portion of the second 45.
Real Salt Lake’s first substitution came in the 57th minute when Bode Hidalgo checked in for Noel Calskan.
57' | Bode replaces Noel #RSLvAME | 2-1 pic.twitter.com/SMKmRymAyw
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 31, 2025
Following some play in the midfield, Luna created a turnover and sprinted toward the net. Malagón charged off his line and knocked the ball free before Luna could load up his powerful right leg.
The home crowd thought RSL had earned a brace on a frantic play in the offensive end. Diego Luna crossed a ball that Agada nearly chipped in for a goal. With Luis Malagón on the ground following Agada’s charge, the loose ball rolled right to Sam Junqua. Junqua ripped a shot right at Malagón that was knocked away with both hands.
Cabral made an athletic save on the other end moments later as América pressed for an equalizer.
Club América stunned Real Salt Lake with a late stoppage-time goal to even the game 2-2.
Penalty kicks
Pablo Ruiz opened penalties with a goal. Rafael Cabral gave RSL the advantage when he deflected Club América’s first attempt.
Justen Glad approached second and scored an easy goal with his left foot. Cabral nearly recreated his first save, but the attempt from Álvaro Fidalgo bounced inside the post to make it 2-1.
RSL made it three for three when Brayan Vera rocketed a shot into the back of the net. Cabral punched away the next attempt to give RSL a 3-1 lead.
WHAT A MATCH TO KICKOFF @LeaguesCup 🤯 pic.twitter.com/G3aKvYVLqd
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 31, 2025
Malagón saved Braian Ojeda’s chance to win, but the celebration was short-lived for the visitors.
Cabral made his third save of PKs to preserve two points for Real Salt Lake.
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake continues Leagues Cup play when they face Atlético de San Luis at America First Field on Saturday, August 2. Kickoff is at 7:30 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.
