Real Salt Lake’s Winless Run Reaches 13 as Mastroeni Demands Match-Winning Plays

Real Salt Lake’s miserable MLS run has reached 13 matches after a 2-0 defeat by the Seattle Sounders, leaving the club three points outside the playoff places and desperate for a response against the New England Revolution.

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni on the touchline

Mastroeni: decisive moments are missing

Real Salt Lake have not won since defeating the Colorado Rapids on May 16. Since then, they have drawn four and lost nine, including each of their last four matches. It is the longest single-season winless streak in the club’s MLS history; their only longer sequence was an 18-match run spanning August 2005 to May 2006.

Seattle’s Danny Musovski and Albert Rusnak scored at Lumen Field on Wednesday, condemning RSL to another defeat. Mastroeni said his team competed properly, worked hard for one another and followed the game plan between the boxes, but failed to deliver when it mattered most.

“Someone’s got to step up and make a play,” Mastroeni told KSL Sports. “You can’t tactic your way into the goal. You can’t structure your way into the goal. You’ve got to make plays to get in the goal.”

The coach said the club’s problems have been visible in both penalty areas rather than in its overall tactical approach. He added that RSL must keep working, whether their current struggles reflect a lack of quality or bad luck.

New England arrive in strong form

New England sit second in the Eastern Conference and enter the match after a 4-2 win over Orlando City. Peyton Miller and Carles Gil scored in second-half stoppage time after the Revolution had conceded an 88th-minute equaliser.

“We’re never satisfied. We never give up,” said United States midfielder Brooklyn Raines. “This group is really special, and it’s just something that we continue to strive for.”

Gil has scored 12 MLS goals this season, five more than any other New England player. He has also recorded 29 shots on target and created 71 chances for teammates, the most in the league in 2026.

RSL hold recent head-to-head edge

Despite their contrasting form, Real Salt Lake are unbeaten in the clubs’ last four MLS meetings. New England have not beaten RSL in league play since May 2017, a stretch in which Salt Lake have outscored the Revolution 9-3.

The Opta model narrowly favours the home side: Real Salt Lake have a 37% win probability, compared with 36.7% for New England and 26.3% for a draw. RSL have taken 23 points from 13 home matches this season, while New England have collected 17 points from 13 away games.

Players to watch

Real Salt Lake’s Morgan Guilavogui will remain with the club during the international break after declining a call-up from Guinea. His 130 progressive carries are third among RSL players despite him playing only 1,381 MLS minutes.

For New England, Carles Gil remains the central attacking threat. His goal output, shooting numbers and chance creation make him the player most likely to decide a match that Mastroeni expects to be settled by moments of individual execution.