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- Real Salt Lake concluded preseason with a 3-3 draw against New York Red Bulls.
- Forster Ajago scored twice, capitalizing on defensive errors, including a late equalizer.
- RSL prepares for CONCACAF Champions Cup and MLS opener, with Diego Luna's return imminent.
INDIO, Calif. — Real Salt Lake played its final official preseason game Wednesday at the Coachella Valley Invitational to a 3-3 draw with the New York Red Bulls, giving RSL four draws and one win over the full five-game tune-up slate.
The one win came against USL side Las Vegas Lights, and the four draws were against MLS opponents New York City FC, Minnesota, St. Louis and, finally, the Red Bulls.
Recent signee from Nashville SC Forster Ajago scored two of the three goals on Wednesday, taking advantage of a disorganized New York backline on both.
The first came on a long goal kick from fellow newcomer Rafa Cabral that Ajago beat the last defender to and slotted past the keeper for a 1-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes.
Forster strikes first thanks to the assist from Rafa in goal 😤
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) February 12, 2025
1-0 | #RSLvNYRBpic.twitter.com/5WlFz5HXdT
His second was a late equalizer after RSL went down 3-1 in the second half. Second-year midfielder Diogo Goncalves found the ball on the edge of the New York box on a bad pass and sent one home to make it 3-2, after which Ajago got ahold of another bad Red Bulls pass to tie things at 3-3 in the final 10 minutes.
RSL accomplished Pablo Mastroeni's preseason goal of not going down early in games but ended up playing from behind in the second half anyway. One of the New York goals was a penalty converted by German veteran Jean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting after colliding with RSL goalkeeper Cabral in the box.
The Claret and Cobalt return to Utah for a final home training session this weekend before departing for Costa Rica on Monday for their CONCACAF Champions Cup opener on Wednesday, Feb. 19 against Herediano.
The MLS opener for RSL is just three days later on Saturday, Feb. 22 in San Jose against former star striker Chicho Arango.
MLS Young Player of the Year Diego Luna was unable to play in preseason games due to a broken nose suffered with the U.S. men's national team in January, but his timetable for return could line up perfectly with the start of RSL's season in just one week.
