Real lago salado vs Cincinnati: Resumen

FC Cincinnati secured a dramatic late victory against Real Salt Lake in a tense MLS encounter at America First Field, with Luca Orellano's 87th-minute strike proving the difference in a hard-fought contest. The July 19th clash in Sandy, Utah saw both teams create numerous opportunities in what was largely an evenly matched affair until Orellano's decisive intervention.

The atmosphere at the sun-soaked America First Field was electric throughout, with 19,836 passionate fans creating a cauldron of noise as both sides pushed for victory. The temperature of 88 degrees did little to dampen the intensity on display, with Real Salt Lake desperate to extend their impressive five-match unbeaten run against visitors looking to cement their position at the summit of the Eastern Conference.

This result has significant implications for both teams' seasons. For the visitors, this crucial away victory propels FC Cincinnati to the top of both the Eastern Conference and the overall Supporters' Shield standings with 48 points, narrowly ahead of Nashville SC and Philadelphia Union. Pat Noonan's men continue to demonstrate remarkable consistency on the road, securing their league-leading eighth away win of the 2025 campaign.

Meanwhile, this defeat represents a considerable setback for Real Salt Lake, who saw both their five-match unbeaten streak and three-match winning run come to a disappointing end. Pablo Mastroeni's side remains mid-table in the Western Conference with a record of 8-11-4 (28 points), needing to regroup quickly as they prepare to host San Jose Earthquakes in their next fixture.

"This was exactly the type of performance we needed at this stage of the season," said FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan. "To come to a difficult venue like America First Field and secure all three points demonstrates the character and resilience of this group. Roman [Celentano] was exceptional between the posts, and Luca [Orellano] produced a moment of quality when we needed it most. We're not getting carried away with our position in the table – there's still plenty of football to be played."

"Naturally, we're disappointed with the result," reflected Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni. "I thought we created enough chances to get something from the game, but sometimes football can be cruel. We've been on a good run recently, and this is a reminder that margins at this level are incredibly fine. The important thing now is how we respond against San Jose next weekend."

"Seven saves equals my best in MLS, but honestly, I'm just happy we got the clean sheet and the win," said Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. "The defensive unit in front of me was tremendous all night. We knew RSL would throw everything at us, especially in the second half, and we stood firm when it mattered."

"The assist might have been my first in 130 MLS appearances, but I've been waiting for that moment," revealed Tah Brian Anunga with a smile. "When I saw Luca in space, I just wanted to get the ball to him in the right area. His finish was world-class – that's what quality players do in big moments."

"Cincinnati continues to prove they're legitimate Supporters' Shield contenders," noted MLS analyst Taylor Twellman. "What impresses me most is their ability to grind out these types of results on the road. Eight away wins is championship form, and with ten games remaining, they've put themselves in a fantastic position."

The statistical breakdown reveals just how closely contested this Real Salt Lake versus FC Cincinnati encounter truly was. The home side registered 17 shots throughout the 90 minutes compared to Cincinnati's 15, highlighting the attacking intent from both teams. Despite the goalless nature of the match until the 87th minute, both sides created quality opportunities.

Possession: Real Salt Lake dominated the ball with 58% possession to Cincinnati's 42%, reflecting their home advantage and need to break down a disciplined visiting defense.

Shots on Target: RSL managed 7 shots on target, all of which were saved by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano. The visitors were slightly less accurate with 5 attempts on frame, one of which proved decisive.

Corners: The home side earned 9 corner kicks compared to Cincinnati's 6, though neither team capitalized on these set-piece opportunities.

Cards: The match saw 4 yellow cards in total – 3 for Real Salt Lake (Katranis, Luna, and Gonçalves) and 1 for Cincinnati (Powell), reflecting the competitive nature of the contest.

Individually, Roman Celentano was the standout performer with 7 crucial saves, matching his career and season high while securing his eighth clean sheet of the 2025 MLS campaign. For the home side, midfielder Diego Luna completed an impressive 91% of his passes and created 4 chances, though ultimately without reward.

Match-winner Luca Orellano's statistics were equally impressive – 3 shots, 2 on target, including his magnificent left-footed strike that decided the contest. Tah Brian Anunga's first career assist in his 130th MLS appearance came at a perfect time, showcasing Cincinnati's ability to find contributions throughout their squad.

7' - Early opportunity for Real Salt Lake as Diego Luna's clever through ball finds Zavier Gozo, whose shot is smartly saved by Celentano at his near post.

23' - FC Cincinnati respond with their first meaningful attack – Pavel Bucha's long-range effort forces Rafael into a diving save, pushing the ball away for a corner which comes to nothing.

41' - Tactical adjustment from RSL coach Mastroeni as Diogo Gonçalves drops deeper to help combat Cincinnati's growing influence in midfield.

45+2' - Half-time whistle blows with the teams deadlocked at 0-0, both having created chances without finding the breakthrough.

58' - Double substitution for Cincinnati as Pat Noonan introduces Luca Orellano and Kevin Kelsy, switching to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation in search of a winner.

72' - Golden opportunity missed by RSL's Ariath Piol, heading wide from Vera's pinpoint cross with the goal at his mercy.

87' - GOAL! (0-1) The deadlock is finally broken! Tah Brian Anunga wins possession in midfield and slides a perfect pass to Luca Orellano, who cuts inside and unleashes a sublime left-footed strike from outside the box that flies into the top corner, leaving Rafael with no chance.

90+4' - Final desperate attack from Real Salt Lake sees Justen Glad's header cleared off the line by Miles Robinson, preserving Cincinnati's clean sheet and securing all three points in this tightly contested MLS encounter.

This encounter marked just the third all-time meeting between Real Salt Lake and FC Cincinnati, with history continuing to favor the road team in this budding MLS rivalry. Cincinnati's victory improves their head-to-head record to 2-1-0, with the away side remarkably winning all three contests to date.

The first meeting between these clubs came in April 2022, when RSL secured a narrow 2-1 victory at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. The second clash in July 2023 saw Cincinnati exact revenge with a 2-0 win at America First Field, a pattern they've now repeated with this latest triumph in Sandy, Utah.

Statistically, these encounters have consistently been tight affairs, with just six goals scored across the three matches (2.0 goals per game), significantly below the league average. Cincinnati has now scored three times against RSL while conceding twice, maintaining a positive goal difference in the head-to-head series.

On an individual level, the matchup between Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson and RSL forward Zavier Gozo provided an intriguing tactical battle throughout the evening. Robinson's experience and positioning repeatedly frustrated Gozo, with a crucial goal-line clearance in stoppage time highlighting his value to Cincinnati's defensive resilience.

In midfield, the contest between RSL's Diego Luna and Cincinnati's Pavel Bucha saw both players showcase their technical abilities, though neither could definitively stamp their authority on proceedings. The introduction of match-winner Luca Orellano as a second-half substitute ultimately proved the difference, highlighting Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan's superior tactical adjustments on this occasion.

With both teams established as competitive forces in their respective conferences, future meetings between these clubs promise to be equally fascinating, particularly if they were to meet in a potential MLS Cup playoff scenario.