Real Salt Lake secured a crucial 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday, snapping a two-game skid. Teenager Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna were the goal-scoring heroes, while goalkeeper Rafael Cabral posted his first clean sheet of the season.

The match, played in Sandy, Utah, saw Real Salt Lake take an early lead. Nineteen-year-old Zavier Gozo opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Just eight minutes later, Diego Luna, who is vying for a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster, doubled RSL's advantage with his third goal in five matches.

Defender Juan Manuel Sanabria proved instrumental in both goals, providing key assists for both Luna and Gozo. Sanabria has now accumulated four assists in his first seven league matches, showcasing his significant impact on the team's offensive play.

Rafael Cabral's performance in goal was equally vital for Real Salt Lake. He made two crucial saves, both in the first half, to secure his eighth shutout in 44 appearances across his two seasons in the league. On the opposing side, Portland's James Pantemis made an impressive 13 saves, with nine coming in the first half, matching his career high.

This victory improves Real Salt Lake's season record to 6-3-1 and their all-time record against the Timbers to 15-16-12 across all competitions. The club maintains a strong home record of 6-1-0, with their only home defeat coming against Inter Miami. The Portland Timbers, now 3-6-1, were unable to build on their recent 2-1 road win against San Diego FC.

Looking ahead, Real Salt Lake will visit FC Dallas next Saturday, aiming to carry this momentum forward. The Portland Timbers will return home to host Sporting Kansas City on the same day.