RSL recovers after early deficit with 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids

Sergi Solans This kid has no business being this good. Real Salt Lake has been very much the benefactor of his unexpected rise. After being drafted in 2025, taking the year to finish his collegiate career, then being signed by RSL in 2026, I don’t think anyone would have expected this. Six goals. Three assists — and not MLS second assists. Three actual assists. An expected goals per 90 of 0.87, per WhoScored. After 13 appearances, I think we can start to think about Solans as at least something approaching the real deal. He’s at the very least an MLS-level striker. His header against the Rapids was perfectly placed — and I’ve been holding off on saying this, but it felt like vintage Alvaro Saborio. His assist for Zavier Gozo’s goal was such a moment of unexpected calm. I’m a big fan of Solans, and credit to the coaching staff for recognizing his talent. In another timeline, he isn’t given a chance, as he only seemed to start at first because it took time for Morgan Guilavogui’s work visa and because Ari Piol went down with an achilles injury. I’m sure he would have found minutes at some point, but this many? He’s taken the opportunity with both hands. And probably his feet. DeAndre Yedlin I haven’t talked too much about DeAndre Yedlin this year, aside from taking time to reflect on his right-center-back role. I’m increasingly of the belief that he’s actually just played an inverted-inverted full back role, where he has license to go forward in the attack but is expected to tuck in to a pretty traditional wide center back role in defensive situations. Credit to Yedlin, he’s managed to carve out a niche for himself. I also think he’s formed a good defensive relationship with Justen Glad, who remains a top tier center back in MLS. It’s extremely clear to me that he is better with better players around him, and Yedlin is contributing to that. Somehow, despite the uncertainty of his role, he’s managing it significantly better than recent Glad partners. Zavier Gozo I dunno, what else is there to say? The kid’s a character. He has so much drive. He wants to score every chance he gets, and he does a good enough job managing to get a goal frequently enough that we want to encourage it. A few more things • I sure hope Diego Luna’s pulling out from the squad was just precautionary. If he misses the World Cup through injury, I’ll be gutted for him. • Just when it seemed like RSL was set to struggle for a bit, they’ve pulled out with back-to-back wins. Love to see it. • RSL doesn’t play at home again until August 15. There’s one away match before the World Cup, then a staggering three more away matches after.