Luna Back on the Scoresheet

Winger Scored His Third Goal in Five Matches as Salt Lake Rolls Past Portland

Diego Luna's World Cup case is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

The 22-year-old scored his third goal in five MLS appearances on Saturday as Real Salt Lake eased past the Portland Timbers 2-0 at America First Field, and in doing so reached a significant personal landmark: 50 goal contributions—25 goals and 25 assists—in 101 appearances for the club. For a player still building toward what should be the peak years of his career, it's a striking number.

The goal arrived in the 18th minute, set up by defender Juan Manuel Sanabria, eight minutes after teenage teammate Zavier Gozo had given Salt Lake the lead. By that point, the afternoon had already taken on a comfortable shape for the hosts, and Luna's contribution, which was his third goal of the 2026 season to go alongside three assists, ensured it stayed that way. Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis finished the match with 13 saves, a figure that tells its own story about the pressure Salt Lake applied throughout.

Luna's statistics from the afternoon were exceptional. He created 10 chances, registered three shots with a 100% accuracy rate, and completed three dribbles. He touched the ball in the opposition box 10 times. It was the kind of all-round attacking performance that makes the argument for him almost by itself.

The context matters too. Luna missed the March international window after a knee injury delayed his season until mid-March. He has wasted no time making up for lost time, and with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino publicly emphasizing the need for grit, belief and leadership, Luna's form and mentality at Salt Lake appear to align with exactly that profile.

Pepi Scored and Dest Returns

Forward Scores Another Goal and Defender Makes His Return to Action in Draw With Ajax

It took Ricardo Pepi just 33 seconds to make his mark at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Saturday, and in doing so, he delivered one of the more arresting moments of the Dutch league weekend.

The American striker headed home at the far post after Yarek Gasiorowski extended a long throw-in from Kiliann Sildillia, giving PSV a lead that must have felt like a statement. For a team that had already clinched the Eredivisie title and spent part of the week on Ibiza, the champions showed no sign of complacency from the opening whistle.

The goal was Pepi's 14th of the league season and his fourth in just three matches—a sharp burst of form that takes his overall tally for PSV to 17 goals across all competitions in 2025-26. At 23, he is producing at a level that marks him out as one of the more reliable American forwards in European football right now.

PSV ultimately had to settle for a point after Mika Godts equalized for Ajax in the 92nd minute, canceling out Myron Boadu's 77th-minute strike.

For US fans watching, though, the result was almost secondary to another development: Sergiño Dest came off the bench just before the hour mark, making his return from the hamstring injury he suffered on March 7. 30 minutes, 26 touches, a splendid 94% pass completion rate and one successful dribble—a quietly encouraging cameo from a player who had missed both of the USMNT's recent pre-World Cup friendlies through injury.

With the tournament on home soil beginning in June, Dest's return could hardly be better timed.