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.

Cardoso's Week to Remember

Midfielder's Week Included Champions League Glory and Copa Heartbreak

It was a week that encapsulated everything about Johnny Cardoso's rollercoaster career—triumph, near-miss, and the tantalizing sense that something big is building.

The 24-year-old New Jersey native, raised in Brazil, returned from a leg injury in stunning fashion on Tuesday, entering in the 89th minute as Atlético Madrid clung to a 3-2 aggregate lead over Barcelona in their Champions League quarterfinal. With Barcelona reduced to 10 men following Eric Garcia's red card in the 79th minute, Atlético still faced eight nerve-shredding minutes of stoppage time. Cardoso helped Diego Simeone's side hold firm, booking their place in the semifinals for the first time since 2017. In doing so, the American midfielder became the first USMNT player to reach the UCL semifinals since Christian Pulisic's Chelsea run in 2021—a significant milestone in a competition that has historically been unkind to American players.

Four days later came the heartbreak. Saturday's Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in Seville was a dramatic, end-to-end affair that finished 2-2 after extra time, with Sociedad ultimately claiming the trophy 4-3 on penalties. Cardoso, who came on and played 42 minutes, was at the center of one of the game's defining moments, and not in the way he would have hoped. With Atlético desperately seeking a winner, he was among those who squandered a glorious opportunity from inside the six-yard box. His stats reflected a player who contributed defensively, with three tackles, four defensive contributions, 89% passing accuracy, but his big chance went begging, and Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero was the night's hero.

Still, for Cardoso, the week represented real progress after months disrupted by injury. With a Champions League semifinal now on the horizon, his club form is finally building at exactly the right moment.