Match review: Royals make history with first Angel City victory, RSL earns first clean sheet of 2026

Real Salt Lake midfielder Zavier Gozo (72) accepts the applause from the fans after scoring a goal as Real Salt lake and Portland Timbers play at America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Real won 2-0. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals FC took victories this Saturday, with first-half goals proving the difference in both matches.

RSL faced the Portland Timbers on Saturday afternoon, earning an assertive 2-0 home victory, while URFC headed west to BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where it claimed its first-ever victory against Angel City FC with a 1-0 triumph. RSL strikes early to earn home win, Utah Royals reign victorious over Angel City Real Salt Lake returned to the Wasatch Front this Saturday in its match against the Portland Timbers, hungry for a win on home turf after losses against Inter Miami CF last Wednesday at home and at LA Galaxy on Sunday. Just 10 minutes after the first whistle, Spanish rookie Sergi Solans delivered a beautiful through-ball to Utah native Zavier Gozo, advancing down the right flank and hitting a one-touch blast with his right foot that soared past the Portland keeper and landed in the bottom left of the net.

The homegrown midfielder celebrated his early lead with a cartwheel into a backflip, shocking fans with his tumbling skills and adding to the electric, sold-out atmosphere of America First Field. Eighteen minutes later, USA World Cup hopeful Diego Luna capitalized on an opportunity after receiving the ball just outside the 18-yard box, sending a pass to Juan Manuel Sanabria, who took a touch before returning the ball back to Luna for a left-footed shot that doubled the Claret-and-Cobalt’s advantage to 2-0 as it blasted into the bottom right corner of the goal. In Los Angeles, Utah Royals FC drew first blood in the 32nd minute, when Canadian international Cloé Lacasse received a cross from Captain Paige Cronin on the right as she charged forward into the box.

Lacasse made contact with the ball in the air, heading it into the bottom left corner for what ultimately proved to be the game-winning goal. Cronin’s assist was her first of the 2026 season, while Lacasse’s goal marked her second for the club this year. USA goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn came through with multiple vital saves for the Utah side, preserving the narrow lead all the way into the final minutes, and ending the night with her first clean sheet in her first start of the 2026 season, after coming back from injury.