Real Salt Lake Saves Point With Penalty Kicks Loss To Atlético De San Luis

SALT LAKE CITY – After winning on penalty kicks in game one of the Leagues Cup, Real Salt Lake was on the other end in game two against Atlético de San Luis.

A Braian Vera brace brought RSL to penalty kicks, but two misses from Real and a perfect slate from San Luis sealed the deal.

The result still secured a point for Real Salt Lake at home. Despite having no outright wins in two games, they have three points to their name.

RSL will face Querétaro on Wednesday, August 6, for the final match in Phase One of Leagues Cup.

Final pic.twitter.com/heninwh3C5

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 3, 2025

First Half

The claret-and-cobalt gave the fans at America First Field a reason to cheer very early, and the energy stayed high all night long.

In the 9th minute, Pablo Ruiz took the ball out for a corner kick. He sent a cross in front of the net, and Braian Ojeda was there at the back post to punch it in.

The goal was Ojeda’s first in a non-MLS competition.

RELATED: Braian Ojeda Opens Scoring Off Corner Kick In Leagues Cup Phase One

Too easy for Ruiz & Ojeda 😏 pic.twitter.com/Uv2S62vjOl

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 3, 2025

Unfortunately for RSL, the lead was short-lived.

15 minutes later, Atlético de San Luis slowed the pace and set up their attack in the final third. José Suárez sent a cross to João Pedro in the middle and he rose up for a header that snuck past Rafael Cabral inside the left post.

After the equalizer, San Luis had all of the momentum. Despite narrowly losing the possession battle, they had three more shot attempts and four more shots on goal.

However, the defense held strong and they managed to keep the score leveled at 1-1 as halftime rolled around.

We’ve got another 45 to respond pic.twitter.com/SWxafruZb9

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 3, 2025

Second Half

The first 20 minutes of the second half were largely uneventful.

In the 64th minute, San Luis midfielder Juan Manuel Sanabria fouled Johnny Russell in the box. Diego Luna stepped up to the spot, looking to put Real back in front.

Luna went for the bottom right corner, but Andrés Sánchez was able to make the diving save.

Andrés Sánchez is the hero! 🧤

El arquero de @AtletideSanLuis le detuvo el penalti a Diego Luna.

Tune in with #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV 📺 https://t.co/G6POd0L2Ns pic.twitter.com/1A9OFmv6Pl

— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) August 3, 2025

Fast forward 15 minutes, things started to look down for Real. After a miss from Bode Hidalgo, Atlético de San Luis went off on a counterattack.

Miguel García led the push. He loaded up an early shot and Cabral was able to knock it away. However, the ball came straight back down and García cleaned up the mess.

Now trailing by one goal with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Real Salt Lake’s back was against the wall.

In the 88th minute, Ojeda stepped up to the moment. From long range, he loaded up and sent a curler past the keeper and into the right side of the net.

Ojeda’s brace keeps us alive!!!! pic.twitter.com/DquvVq38WI

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 3, 2025

Six minutes of stoppage time was added but neither side was able to score the winner so for the second time in two games, Real went to penalty kicks.

Penalty Kicks

The first set of pens told the whole story for the matches finish.

San Luis’ Pedro buried his attempt in the bottom corner, and Brayan Vera’s attempt sailed over the crossbar. After another make from Atlético de San Luis, Justen Glad stepped up and his shot was saved.

There were no misses to from either side from that point on. After San Luis’ netted its fourth, the final whistle was blown.

pic.twitter.com/CouSJBYlFR

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 3, 2025

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

All Real Salt Lake English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram. 

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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