Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Diego Luna scored twice in the first half to lead RSL to a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy.
- RSL secured its first clean sheet since the season's second game.
- Coach Pablo Mastroeni praised Luna's performance, highlighting his dedication and potential future with the national team.
SANDY — Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna carried over some swagger from Friday's Utah State of Sport Awards, where he took home Male Professional Athlete of the Year, into Saturday's matinee showdown against the winless Los Angeles Galaxy at America First Field.
The 21-year-old became the youngest RSL player to reach 15 goals and 15 assists in his career with a pair of goals five minutes apart in the 21st and 26th minutes to end a two-week scoring drought for the Claret and Cobalt.
RSL got its first clean sheet since the second game of the season on the defensive end to secure the club's third win to go along with four losses in 2025.
Alex Katranis got the assist on the first goal in his first start since early March with a perfect diagonal pass into the center of the box where Luna was waiting to bury his second goal of the season.
A similar pass five minutes later from Ari Piol was deflected by a Galaxy defender and Luna pounced on the loose ball for his second goal of the match and third on the season to lead RSL and secure the 2-0 win.
🚨 Diego Luna brace! 🚨
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 5, 2025
Mama, there goes that man! pic.twitter.com/GGOwfk0gnI
"Diego Luna!" chants broke out around the stadium, starting in the south-end supporters section, following the goals, as rays of hope emanated from Luna's platinum highlights.
It wasn't the goals that head coach Pablo Mastroeni was most proud of, though; it was everything else that Luna and his teammates put in between the lines to earn the "scrappy" identity that he swears by.
"What I saw was a guy that wanted to fight for the team," Mastroeni said of Luna. "I saw a guy that was making slide tackles and double back-pressing. I saw a guy that was just engaged and wanted to win the game tonight. So, to put two goals on top that, I think, speaks volumes of where he's going with his career."
Mastroeni added that U.S. men's national team assistant coach Miguel D'Agostino was with the team this week and Luna mentioned it was "cool" to catch up and discuss the plans the national team has for him.
"It was an inspired performance and I think (Diego) sees what lies before him if he keeps in this form," Mastroeni said. "So I couldn't be happier for him."
The next opportunities for Luna with the national team will come in June as Mauricio Pochettino's squad prepares for the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicking off on June 14.
"The national team is of course an honor, and I'm grateful for that," Luna said. "When I'm there, I'm focused with the national team, and when I come back here, I'm focused solely on RSL. Doing those things allows you the opportunities to go back and forth."
RSL heads to Nashville next week before returning home to face Toronto FC on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. MDT at America First Field.
