Real Salt Lake Musters Zero Offense In Blowout Loss
Feb 22, 2025, 10:42 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2025, 12:40 pm
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Cristian Espinoza #10 of the San Jose Earthquakes and Diego Luna #8 of Real Salt Lake battles for possession during the MLS match between San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake at PayPal Park on February 22, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, California – Real Salt Lake kept it close for a half, but San Jose pulled away with a trio of second-half goals to secure the 4-0 win.
Real Salt Lake opened the 2025 MLS regular season against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, February 22.
Final#SJvRSL | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/rDCnWzCwPa
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 23, 2025
First Half
RSL started fast when Diego Luna collected the ball near midfield with momentum. Luna dumped a pass on Tyler Wolff, who looked back at Luna in the box. Luna had a go, but his right-footed shot scooted wide right.
Luna is making his first start of the season. Wearing the captain armband, Justen Glad also made his first start.
😠😠😠😠😠😠
😠😠😠😠😠 pic.twitter.com/qMjtMVPS1i— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 23, 2025
The Earthquake’s first scoring chance was a slow-developing play in the sixth minute. Josef Martinez saw his shot sail harmlessly wide.
San Jose had two early set pieces but couldn’t pierce the RSL defense.
RELATED: RSL Picks Up Scoreless Draw Against C.S. Herediano
The best scoring chance for either team came in the 16th minute for San Jose. The Earthquakes had multiple chances, but goalkeeper Rafael Cabral got help from his mates to keep the match scoreless.
J Glad with a goal line save 😮💨#RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
RSL’s first corner came off a run in the 24th minute. Pablo Ruiz delivered a harmless ball that Daniel quickly took in.
Minutes later, the Quakes struck first on a dangerous cross. The pass beat sailed past four defenders, finding Jamar Ricketts near the six. Ricketts split two RSL defenders with a ball that settled just inside the left goalpost.
29' | San Jose gets on the board first#SJvRSL | 1-0
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 23, 2025
The @SJEarthquakes strike first!
Jamar Ricketts slots it home finishes with an acrobatic celebration. 💫
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/zyN7jQJzYU pic.twitter.com/Yh8dCqU7G6
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
Luna had a chance at his first goal, but the shot sailed over the crossbar.
Real Salt Lake benefited from a foul at the edge of the 18-yard box during stoppage time. Ruiz lined up the free kick, but his attempt bounced off the wall of defenders. Alexandros Katranis lined the rebound out of play to end the threat. The Earthquakes led 1-0 after 45 minutes.
First half in the books and @realsaltlake is down 1-0 on the road to @SJEarthquakes
Some good. Diego Luna. Wolff has been solid. Pablo Ruiz is back. Katranis rocket. But some bad, mostly going down with the Ricketts goal
Your thoughts on the first 45?@kslsports | #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
RSL sometimes seemed a step late, committing nine fouls compared to only for San Jose. The Claret & Cobalt attempted eight shots (1 OG), while San Jose made the most of their five shots (2 OG)
Story of the half
San Jose 1-0 Real Salt Lake
Possession belongs to RSL 51%-49%
More shots from RSL 7-5
San Jose with more on target 2-1
xG numbers favor RSL 1.8-0.8
Both teams with 3 corners
RSL leads in fouls 9-4
RSL with an 83% pass accuracy #RSL— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
Second Half
Emeka Eneli came on for RSL to open the second half. He replaced Jaivan Brown.
San Jose thought it had doubled the lead in the 50th minute when Chicho Arango blasted a ball past Rafael. The goal was wiped away thanks to an offside call, keeping RSL alive.
Chicho scored but the flag is raised and it will not stand
Remains 0-1 #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
Rafael made a diving save two minutes later to keep it a one-goal game.
Katranis earned a yellow card in the 54th minute on a play that forced him to leave the pitch with an injury. SamJunqua came on for Katranis.
The Earthquakes kept challenging RSL as they held all of the momentum.
Tyler Wolff had a chance for an equalizer, but his shot bounced into the side netting.
Not a bad look and shot there from Wolff, just hits the wrong side of the net#RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
Ruiz fired a shot in the 63rd minute, forcing Daniel to punch the ball away. The shot may have been RSL’s best chance of the night.
San Jose finally broke through on a corner kick in the 70th minute. A high-arcing ball swung in front of the goal and was headed past Rafael by Rodrigues.
And now it’s 0-2#RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
San Jose made the final 15 minutes a formality with the third goal. Ousseni Bouda got behind the defense for an easy goal, making it 3-0 Earthquakes.
0-3 #RSL pic.twitter.com/yJChorqHme
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) February 23, 2025
Goals kept coming, with the Earthquakes tacking on another insurance goal in the 83rd minute.
San Jose kept RSL off the scoreboard, securing the 4-0 win.
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How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake opened the 2025 campaign earlier in the week in Champions Cup play. The club picked up a scoreless draw in leg one against C.S. Herediano. Herediano makes the return trip to Utah on Wednesday, February 26, at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. MT.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram at @bpreece24.
