‘Someone’s gotta step up and make a play’: RSL winless streak reaches 13 in Seattle

SEATTLE — Real Salt Lake gave head coach Pablo Mastroeni the response he wanted.

It just didn’t change the result.

Three days after Mastroeni questioned his team’s competitiveness following a 3-0 loss to Vancouver, RSL battled Western Conference rival Seattle for 90 minutes Wednesday night.

But former RSL players Danny Musovski and Albert Rusnák scored second-half goals as the Sounders earned a 2-0 win at Lumen Field.

RSL’s MLS winless streak reached 13 matches, while Seattle snapped its own 13-match skid.

Mastroeni saw a significant difference between the team that left the field Saturday and the one that played Wednesday.

“Did we compete the right way? And this is what I asked the guys in the locker room,” Mastroeni said. “Every one of them said yes. Did you work extremely hard for the guy next to you when he made a mistake? Absolutely. Tactically between the boxes, did we execute the game plan? Yes.

“And that just leaves the boxes again.”

Final #SEAvRSL | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/NdNy6i98bO

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 24, 2026

Chances go unfinished

RSL entered halftime scoreless after largely limiting Seattle’s opportunities and staying disciplined in the five-man defensive shape Mastroeni returned to after experimenting with a back four against Vancouver.

The visitors nearly found the breakthrough shortly after halftime.

Sergi Solans got behind the Seattle defense and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but he elected to take an extra touch to his left instead of shooting, allowing the onrushing goalkeeper to swipe the ball away.

Less than two minutes later, Seattle scored at the other end.

A hopeful touch from Morgan Guilavogui was taken away by Paul Arriola, who then drove forward before dishing to former RSL striker Danny Musovski on his right. Musovski showed the skill that made him Seattle’s leading goal scorer last season, burying his shot just inside the post.

For Mastroeni, the sequence encapsulated the difference between the teams.

“If that thing goes in, now the whole setup is validated,” Mastroeni said of Solans’ opportunity. “And I think it was a minute and a half or two minutes later where we concede the first goal.”

Guilavogui repeatedly created space around the Seattle penalty area, but Salt Lake’s final decisions failed to turn those positions into dangerous chances.

“Someone’s gotta step up and make a play,” Mastroeni said. “I think that’s the biggest difference. Tonight, the two shots, the guys executed.”

Mastroeni described his attack as “a little bit gun shy,” saying RSL too often looked for another pass rather than taking an available shot.

“You can’t tactic your way into the goal,” he said. “You can’t structure your way into the goal. You gotta make plays to get in the goal. That’s just the name of the game.”

Former RSL players finish it

To add salt to the wound, both of Seattle’s goals came from former RSL players.

Rusnák provided Seattle’s second in the 73rd minute, beating RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral from outside the penalty area after marauding through the midfield unchecked.

The former RSL captain is making $2.685 million in guaranteed compensation this season, and Seattle recently restructured his contract to free a DP slot that allowed the Sounders to acquire Dejan Joveljić from Sporting Kansas City for $6 million.

Once again, the difference-makers made the difference.

Injuries force another reshuffle

RSL’s lengthy injury list grew before the match even began.

Alex Katranis suffered a groin injury shortly before kickoff, forcing Mastroeni to reshuffle his lineup. Sam Junqua moved into a different position at left wingback, while Kobi Henry was inserted into the starting lineup without expecting to play.

The changes also put more responsibility on RSL’s young players.

Luca Moisa started in the No. 10 role, and Mastroeni called the 18-year-old’s performance “outstanding,” particularly praising his work against the ball.

“A big part of why I think the team was strong defensively was from Luca’s performance,” Mastroeni said.

Liam O’Gara made his first-team debut late in the match, becoming the latest member of RSL’s 2025 draft class to reach the first team. 

“He’s had a really good year with the Monarchs,” Mastroeni said. “I felt really comfortable putting him in. I didn’t have any concerns.”

Mastroeni pushed back on the idea that RSL’s mounting injuries and diminishing playoff prospects should shift the club’s focus toward developing young players.

“Our focus is to win,” he said.

Mastroeni has also steadfastly avoided pointing to the roster as an explanation for the results, even as injuries, international absences and a midseason overhaul have left him relying heavily on young and inexperienced players.

Mastroeni believes Wednesday represented progress from Saturday’s performance, even if the standings won’t show it.

Somehow, despite a 13-match MLS winless streak, RSL still finds itself just three points out of the play-in match.

“If you’re doing everything you can and it’s still not enough, we’re either not good enough at the moment or we’re unlucky,” Mastroeni said. “Either way, there’s only one way forward, and that’s put your head down and keep grinding.”

RSL gets little time to dwell on another defeat. New England Revolution, second in the Eastern Conference, visits America First Field on Saturday before the league finally pauses for the international window.