Real Salt Lake returns home to face red-hot Portland Timbers on Star Wars Night

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After three straight road matches, Real Salt Lake (11th Place Western Conference, 4-1-7, 13 points) will play at home on Wednesday night when they host Western Conference rivals the Portland Timbers (3rd place, 6-3-3, 21 points).

The theme of the match will be Star Wars Night so there will be cosplayers at the match and a Star Wars-themed Scavenger Hunt from 6-7:30. 

Real Salt Lake collected a valuable road point Saturday night in Dallas, grinding out a 1-1 draw despite being down a man for over 20 minutes after recent arrival Willy Agada was controversially sent off for a second yellow card.

Former RSL danger man Anderson Julio scored a trademark “Juli-goal” for his new club, dribbling past several defenders before striking his shot into the net. But most fans will remember RSL and U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) star midfielder Diego Luna’s goal as the moment of the match.

Real Salt Lake strung together a sequence of 17 passes over approximately 75 seconds, culminating in RSL Designated Player Diogo Goncalves creating a volley for himself with a classy bit of skill. His shot was blocked but Luna reacted first to collect the rebound, roll the ball backward to his left foot to create space and then send a rocket off the left post and in. 

Luna’s team-leading seventh goal of the season is up for Goal of the Week, and his performance earned him a spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday (bench) and MLS Young Players of the Matchday squad.  

Portland comes to town after dispatching Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in Portland, a workmanlike performance in which they went ahead in the 10th minute on a spectacular bicycle kick from Santiago Moreno (also nominated for Goal of the Week) and then kept a clean sheet en route to three points. The Timbers have lost only one match in their last eight.

As general manager of the Timbers, former Real Salt Lake midfielder (and MLS Cup Winner) Ned Grabavoy has gathered a murderer’s row of goal-scorers in Portland, including forwards Felipe Mora (5 Goals, 2 Assists), Antony (4G, 7A), and Kevin Kelsy (4G). Their defense is anchored by Maxime Crepeau in goal, back from injury and in the kind of form (13 saves in his last three matches) that saw him lift an MLS Cup with LAFC in 2022.

Noel Caliskan, who signed with RSL last season after Portland declined to pick up his option year, has been seeing minutes off the bench at his preferred position in midfield but started and played a full 90 minutes at right back against Dallas. Caliskan knows RSL has their work cut out for them against an in-form opponent, especially with 2024 MLS All-Star Centerback Justen Glad suspended for yellow card accumulation, but believes his team can compete with anyone in the league.

“They’re obviously really dangerous in the transition moments,” he said. “There is so much quality up front. It’s going to need a lot of communication, very good resting defense, winning duels- always. If we control the ball well, we eliminate a lot of the transitions where they thrive.” 

Defender Sam Junqua agreed and emphasized the need to continue the momentum with a home match scheduled between two road matches in an eight-day span.

“The home game is really important,” he said after training on Tuesday, “we haven’t been as clinical at home as we’d like to be. It’s a really important week with a lot of points on the line for us.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM MT at America First Field in Sandy. Tickets are available here and the match will be broadcast on Apple TV+/MLS Season Pass. 

For more Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals coverage, check out the Royal Riot Podcast, available on all major streaming platforms.