Real Salt Lake vs Sporting Kansas City: Mastroeni Backs Luna for US World Cup Squad
Real Salt Lake vs Sporting Kansas City: Mastroeni Backs Luna for US World Cup Squad
Real Salt Lake are gearing up for a crucial home match against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, as they look to build on their solid start to the MLS season. With 10 points from five games, RSL sit sixth in the Western Conference, emerging from the international break unbeaten in their last four outings—three wins and a draw—since a 1-0 opening loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
At the center of attention is midfielder Diego Luna, who has been sidelined by injury early in the season but is now pushing for a spot in US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino's plans ahead of the World Cup. Luna missed RSL's first two games but has come off the bench in the last two—a 2-1 win over Austin FC and a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC—creating five chances in just 64 minutes of play. He was absent from the USMNT's recent friendlies against Belgium and Portugal but featured in November last year.
RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni is a strong advocate for Luna's inclusion. Speaking to KSL Sports, Mastroeni said: "I think so. I think the thing with Diego that is unique is, he's an attacking player that brings a spark. He brings a spark in the way he presses, but he also brings a spark in the attack. He's a guy that always plays with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn't care whether he's playing against Guatemala, Belgium or Portugal, he goes at players, he takes them on, and his mentality is that it's him against the world. I think in those situations, you want someone to start or come into a game who isn't overcome by the presence of opponents."
Mastroeni credits the team's upturn to the competition from a talented group of youngsters, which has elevated training standards. "It's lit a fire under all the experienced guys, and that's what really brings the group together," he noted. "The level of training in these last few months has been better than I've seen in the last five years that I've been here. But we can't rest on our laurels. MLS is a crazy league. At the weekend we play SKC, and they lost their last home game but won away before that, against the LA Galaxy."
Opposition in Focus: Sporting Kansas City's Struggles
Sporting Kansas City languish at the bottom of the Western Conference with just four points from five games, including a 4-1 thrashing by the Colorado Rapids in their last outing. Their recent away win over LA Galaxy on March 14 snapped a long drought—their first road victory since July 2025—but they haven't won consecutive away games in the regular season since 2021.
Key player for SKC is Shapi Suleymanov, who netted his first goal of the season in the loss to Colorado, marking his third since the start of last season. With star Dejan Joveljic leading the scoring charts (21 goals), the supporting cast needs to step up.
Match Prediction and Key Stats
RSL hold a strong historical edge at home against SKC, boasting 13 wins in their regular-season series (3 draws, 5 losses). The only teams they've beaten more often at home are Colorado Rapids (19) and Seattle Sounders (14). RSL have scored multiple goals in each of their last four games, a streak not seen since May 2024—the last time they hit five straight was in 2017.
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win. Opta win probability: Real Salt Lake 60.7%, Sporting Kansas City 18.7%, Draw 20.6%. Luna could feature from the bench as he regains full fitness, potentially adding to RSL's two goals already scored by substitutes this season—compared to just three all last year.