PORTLAND, Ore. — Real Salt Lake’s 2025 season ended in familiar frustration Wednesday night, as the club fell 3–1 to the Portland Timbers in the MLS wild-card round — a defeat that encapsulated the same offensive struggles that have plagued the team all year.
Despite outshooting Portland 18–7 and controlling long stretches of the second half, RSL couldn’t convert opportunities into goals, leaving head coach Pablo Mastroeni openly acknowledging that the team must make “tough decisions” this offseason.
“It was a microcosm of how our season’s been,” Mastroeni said. “We had 20-some-odd chances on goal and can’t seem to find the play that tips the scales.”
Missed Chances Define the Night
Portland’s Felipe Mora capitalized on two early rebounds to put the Timbers ahead 2–0 before halftime. RSL defender Justen Glad briefly reignited hope with a headed goal just before intermission, but a late strike from Kamal Miller in the 82nd minute sealed the Timbers’ victory.
Salt Lake’s attacking woes were summed up in a series of near-misses — Victor Olatunji failed to connect with a cross inches from the line, Willy Agada’s bicycle kick smashed the crossbar, and Ryan Cruz had a free-kick goal disallowed after pushing Portland’s defensive wall.
“That was a bad ad lib,” Mastroeni admitted. “Especially when the ball hits the back of the net.”
Scoring Drought Extends Beyond One Match
The defeat ended RSL’s fifth consecutive playoff appearance but underscored a deeper issue — an alarming drop in goal production. After scoring 65 goals last season, the club managed just 38 this year, ranking among the league’s five lowest tallies.
“The difference between last year and this year,” Mastroeni said, “is we had guys who were prolific in front of goal. We haven’t lacked for chances — we’ve lacked for finishers.”
Summer Signings Under Review
Midseason additions Victor Olatunji and Ryan Cruz were brought in to address the scoring issue. Olatunji provided flashes, scoring four times since his arrival, but Cruz failed to make a consistent impact.
“For me, Cruz has still been a question mark,” Mastroeni said. “He’s scored goals in Europe, but it’s been stop-and-go with us. We need more reliability.”
A Critical Offseason Ahead
RSL’s front office faces difficult roster decisions before 2026. Several contracts are expiring, and the team must weigh whether to invest in proven finishers or continue developing its younger core.
“Guys that score goals — you can find them. They’re out there,” Mastroeni said. “That’s our challenge now.”
Despite the disappointment, Mastroeni praised his squad’s effort and resilience but admitted that without new offensive solutions, the team risks another stagnant year.
“This group works incredibly hard,” he said. “But in this league, you’ve got to finish. That’s the difference between winning a playoff game and watching the next round from home.”
