Skidding clubs clash as Real Salt Lake oppose Austin FC

Field Level Media|published: Mon 26th May, 22:12 2025

May 24, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Austin FC defender Zan Kolmanic (23) heads a pass away form Minnesota United forward Bongokuhle Hlongwane (21) in the second half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Austin FC hope their home pitch will help the team get back on the winning track in MLS play when they host slumping Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.

The Verde (5-6-4, 19 points) are mired in a six-match winless streak -- three defeats followed by three draws. Meanwhile, RSL (4-9-2, 14 points) have one more chance to win in the month of May after losing three times and drawing twice.

Austin drew 1-1 against host Minnesota United on Saturday. Verde goalkeeper Brad Stuver was the difference, stopping eight of the six shots he faced as Austin AC earned a point against one of the West's best teams.

"We knew that it's going to be an ugly game, a very ugly game," Austin FC coach Nico Estevez said afterward. "There are a lot of positives on this game as a team as a cohesive and connected team in a solid professional performance, but we came here to win, and we wanted to win here, and we need to get better in order to win."

Zan Kolmanic had Austin's goal in the draw. Brandon Vazquez still leads the Verde this season with four goals, as the rest of the team has combined for six total tallies.

Real Sal Lake haven't won since earning a 3-1 decision on the road vs. San Diego FC on April 26.

Most recently, Salt Lake took a 3-2 home loss to the West-leading Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Diego Luna scored his eighth goal of the season and added an assist in the loss. Eighteen-year-old Utah native Zavier Gozo added his first senior professional goal in the opening seconds for Salt Lake, which required only four minutes to storm to a two-goal lead. However, Vancouver scored twice in the first half and added the decisive goal in the 90th minute to take all three points.

The two goals in four minutes represented the fastest two-goal start in club history and the fastest in MLS since 2018.

"I feel like, coming out against the best team in the league, we were hungry," Gozo said of the hot start. "We were looking to make a point. I think we did that in the first 20 minutes, but, I mean, we need to maintain that."

Like Vazquez, Luna is the only player on his team to produce multiple goals in 2025.

--Field Level Media