RSL rallies past Austin, climbs into postseason position with 2nd straight road win

SANDY — A month ago, Real Salt Lake’s season appeared to be in a death spiral, at least to outside observers.

But the team never lost faith, and on Wednesday, the Claret-and-Cobalt climbed to ninth place in the Western Conference, good for the final postseason berth and a spot in the play-in game, with a 2-1 comeback victory over Austin FC at Q2 Stadium.

Saba Lobjanidze and Morgan Guilavogui scored six minutes apart in the second half, overturning an Austin lead and extending RSL’s late-season resurgence.

Since Sept. 26, RSL has won four matches, drawn one and lost one, collecting 13 of 18 possible points, including two road victories.

Salt Lake has 42 points, one behind Colorado and Seattle, who occupy the final two automatic playoff positions. The LA Galaxy sit one point behind RSL, with all four teams having played 32 matches.

+3️⃣ in ATX

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— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 29, 2026

Chances and consequences

Austin started on the front foot, testing RSL’s defensive shape and forcing highlight-reel saves from RSL goalkeeper Rafa Cabral and last-ditch interventions from the central defenders.

RSL gradually settled into the match and began creating opportunities.

In the 30th minute, Philip Quinton launched a long pass to Lobjanidze, whose backheel released Sergi Solans. The rookie found himself one-on-one with Austin goalkeeper Damian Las but dragged his finish narrowly wide.

Four minutes later, Guilavogui unleashed a right-footed rocket from roughly 30 yards. Las barely got his fingertips to it, redirecting the shot onto the crossbar.

Guilavogui’s evening took an unfortunate turn moments later.

After being clattered into from behind in Austin’s half without a whistle, Guilavogui was penalized for a challenge of his own in the RSL half. He reacted petulantly, kicking the ball away in frustration, and was shown a yellow card.

Guilavogui entered the match one caution-free appearance away from a yellow-card reduction under MLS’s Good Behavior Incentive program. Instead, he will miss Saturday’s trip to San Jose through suspension.

“I think it was a soft foul,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said postmatch. “But I understand that if it’s a foul from behind in that phase of the game, more than likely he’s gonna have to give a yellow card.”

RSL finished the half with 11 shots but nothing to show for them.

Saba time

Austin struck first in the 52nd minute when Jorge Alastuey collected a loose ball outside the penalty area and drove a low shot beyond Cabral and just inside the far post.

But Austin’s lead would last only 150 seconds.

Stijn Spierings found Juan Manuel Sanabria along the left touchline. Sanabria played toward Guilavogui near the top of the penalty area, but Lobjanidze was already moving across to meet it.

He collected the pass, stepped toward Sanabria and turned as Guilavogui backed away, creating space for his teammate.

Lobjanidze curled a magnificent right-footed effort around two defenders and into the far upper corner.

He tapped his wrist in his signature “Saba Time” celebration, and less than three minutes after falling behind, RSL was level.

From interception to winner

Six minutes later, Noel Caliskan started the winning move roughly 30 yards from his own goal, intercepting an Austin crossfield pass and immediately threading the ball between two opponents to Guilavogui in the center circle.

The Frenchman took one touch and split another pair of defenders with a through ball for Solans.

Solans dribbled into the penalty area, touched left, then chopped back onto his right foot as Austin defender Mikkel Desler pressured him from behind and Las charged. Rather than force a shot, the rookie laid the ball into the path of the onrushing Guilavogui.

Las slid laterally and desperately dove across the Designated Player’s path. Guilavogui finished past him to give RSL a 2-1 lead, but his momentum carried him over the diving goalkeeper, and he landed heavily.

Guilavogui later reported some discomfort but said it wasn’t serious. He credited Solans with providing “the perfect assist.”

VAR intervenes

The referee awarded a penalty to Austin in the 72nd minute for an apparent handball against RSL defender Kobi Henry, whose back was turned to the ball.

Replays showed the ball had ricocheted off Henry’s back before striking his arm, and the referee overturned the decision following an on-field review.

“I’m grateful that they got the call right,” Mastroeni said. “I think it would’ve been a catastrophe to sit there and spend the rest of the night thinking about how far we’ve come.”

Cabral preserved the lead five minutes later, diving low to his right to deny Austin’s leading goalscorer, Myrto Uzuni.

With RSL in the midst of heavy fixture congestion, Mastroeni used all five substitutions, including a triple change in the 80th minute that introduced Justen Glad, DeAndre Yedlin and Ariath Piol.

Glad, making his second appearance after a five-month injury absence, contributed an important headed clearance during stoppage time. Mastroeni said the defender could start against San Jose, depending on his recovery.

Holding on

Austin pressed desperately through nine minutes of added time, with Brandon Vázquez sending a dangerous header wide.

Caliskan, meanwhile, still had energy to spare, consistently providing a relief valve for the defending players behind him.

“I wanna say it’s a breakout season for the young man, but I think it’s beyond that,” Mastroeni said of Caliskan. “I think he’s playing with a level of soccer acumen that you don’t find around this league a whole lot, to be honest.”

The victory was only RSL’s third away from home this season, but its second consecutive road win.

Guilavogui’s suspension leaves Mastroeni with a selection decision for Saturday’s visit to fifth-place San Jose. RSL then hosts the Galaxy on Decision Day, Nov. 7.

Lobjanidze credited the recent turnaround to a collective effort at both ends of the pitch.

“Everyone is together and everyone is attacking and it’s helping us a lot and we are scoring some goals,” he said.