Luna Shines

Midfielder Had a Goal and an Assist as Real Salt Lake Stayed on a Roll

Diego Luna is making a strong case for a World Cup roster spot, and Saturday night in Sandy was his most compelling argument yet.

The 22-year-old contributed a goal and an assist as Real Salt Lake dismantled San Diego FC 4-2, extending their unbeaten run to six matches and matching the best seven-game start in the franchise's 22-season history. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni was effusive afterward, calling it "probably the best half of football" he's witnessed during his tenure, praising every phase of the game from pressing to build-up play.

Luna was the spark plug from the opening minutes. In the fourth minute, he read a careless attempted pass by San Diego goalkeeper Duran Ferree, intercepted it, and coolly slotted home to put RSL ahead. Just 60 seconds later, he shifted the ball wide and delivered a cross-field pass that Sergi Solans headed inside the left post to make it 2-0. Zavier Gozo set up Solans' second goal of the night, before Morgan Guilavogui added a fourth just before halftime to put the match beyond doubt.

Luna's underlying numbers were equally impressive. He created three chances, including two big ones, completed 67% of his crosses, and finished with an xG+xA of 1.34 in just 70 minutes of action. It was only his second start of the season, after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out during the March international window, yet he's scored in both outings.

The timing couldn't be better. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil less than two months away, Luna, a two-time MLS All-Star and breakout USMNT performer last year, is reminding coach Mauricio Pochettino exactly what he brings to the table.