RSL set for 2025 kickoff in Costa Rica to test depth, fight of new team

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Last year's Real Salt Lake season opener was a trial by fire in Miami against Lionel Messi, but the 2025 kickoff is no cakewalk, either.

RSL begins the season Wednesday in Costa Rica against Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the Claret and Cobalt's first international competition since 2016.

The Costa Rican club is undefeated in domestic league play and leads the Primera Division through nine games. RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni and midfielder Emeka Eneli addressed the media Tuesday after their first training session at Estadio Nacional in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose.

"We know it's going to be a dog fight; it's going to be a battle," Eneli said. "So we know we have to match that intensity and bring that same fight. And I think if we do that, it'll be a good match tomorrow and we can take a result."

Eneli has taken on a bigger role in each of his first two seasons with RSL and figures to do the same this year, especially given the early absence of fellow U.S. national team member Diego Luna due to a nose fracture suffered in the last U.S. match against — funny enough — Costa Rica.

Luna — the reigning MLS Young Player of the Year — did not make the trip to Costa Rica and plans to join the squad this weekend in San Jose, California, ahead of Saturday's MLS opener against his hometown club the Earthquakes and former RSL striker Chicho Arango.

So who steps up in Costa Rica without Luna and — now that he's been mentioned — Arango?

Therein lies the $1.5 million question for RSL.

From an investment standpoint, the big bet is on last year's midseason signing of Diogo Goncalves, an attacking midfielder who has yet to reach his scoring or assisting potential in Claret and Cobalt.

The other 2024 addition expected to make a jump in productivity is Dominik Marczuk, a Polish winger whose physical talents are undeniable but who is working on finessing the final pass and final shot in the attacking third of the field.

Two names come to mind for the striker position as RSL seeks to replace 17 goals from Arango last season: Forster Ajago and Ari Piol.

Ajago had a headstart after coming over from Nashville SC in the offseason, as opposed to a delayed integration due to visa processing from Australia for Piol. Both possess the tenacity to push the backline and finishing ability in front of goal and will likely share the load up top this season for RSL.

The other end of the field will also see some newcomers for RSL, with 34-year-old Brazilian Rafa Cabral expected to start in goal in place of the injured Zac MacMath. New defenders Sam Junqua and Kobi Henry could also factor in, especially given the club's decision Tuesday to part ways with veteran outside back Andrew Brody.

"(It's) a real competitive bunch of guys that want to get better, guys that want to learn and, more importantly, guys that want to win," Mastroeni said. "So tomorrow's game will be a welcome to a new campaign, but against a great team, and I'm really looking forward to seeing all the fruits of our labor in the preseason."

The match against Herediano on Wednesday begins at 4:30 p.m. MST and can be viewed on the Tubi streaming service. RSL returns to Utah for the second leg of the first-round matchup to be played a week from Wednesday on Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. MST at America First Field.

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