Soccer

Luna scores as Real Salt Lake beats Portland

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SANDY, UTAH - MAY 02: Diego Luna #10 of Real Salt Lake celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the MLS match between Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers at America First Field on May 02, 2026 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/MLS via Getty Images) (Chris Gardner/MLS via Getty Images)

SANDY, Utah -- - Teenager Zavier Gozo and Diego Luna scored first-half goals and Rafael Cabral posted his first clean sheet of the season to lead Real Salt Lake to a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

Gozo, 19, gave Real Salt Lake (6-3-1) the lead in the 10th minute, and Luna, bidding for a spot on the U.S. World Cup roster, scored his third goal in five matches eight minutes later for a two-goal advantage.

Defender Juan Manuel Sanabria had assists to set up Luna , who had his season debut delayed until March 14 by a knee injury, and Gozo. Sanabria has four assists in his first seven league matches.

Cabral totaled two saves - both in the first half - to earn his eighth shutout in 44 appearances over his two seasons in the league.

James Pantemis had nine saves in goal for Portland (3-6-1) to match his career high - in the first half. He finished with 13. The 29-year-old had nine saves in a 2-0 road loss to Nashville SC in March of 2025.

Real Salt Lake snaps a two-game skid and improves to 15-16-12 all time against the Timbers through all competitions.

Real Salt Lake is 6-1-0 at home with its only loss coming from Inter Miami.

Portland was coming off its first road win of the season, a 2-1 victory over San Diego FC.

Up next Portland: Hosts Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Real Salt Lake: Visits FC Dallas on Saturday.

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