Zavier Gozo and Real Salt Lake Maintain Strong Start Against Kansas City

Zavier Gozo contributed a goal and an assist on Saturday as Real Salt Lake defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at home.

Diego Luna and Sergi Solans also found the net for Salt Lake (4-1-1, 13 points), marking their fifth straight game without a loss. Noel Caliskan provided two assists, helping Salt Lake secure a 3-0 record at home. The team dominated with 22 shots compared to Kansas City’s five.

Dejan Joveljic scored the only goal for Kansas City (1-4-1, four points), bringing his season total to four, while the team remains at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Goalkeeper John Pulskamp made four saves but conceded three goals, leaving Kansas City with the worst goal differential in the conference at minus-8.

Salt Lake took the lead early, scoring just four minutes into the game. Caliskan set up Luna, who fired a left-foot shot into the net. Salt Lake extended their lead to 2-0 at the 55-minute mark when Gozo assisted Solans, who scored with a right-footed shot from inside the box. Kansas City responded quickly, with Joveljic cutting the lead to 2-1 four minutes later, assisted by Justin Reynolds.

After a close attempt from Manu Garcia almost equalized the score, Salt Lake restored their two-goal advantage with Gozo’s strike in the 82nd minute, thanks to another assist from Caliskan.

Throughout the first half, Salt Lake dominated with 12 shot attempts compared to Kansas City’s two, as Pulskamp made three crucial saves to keep his team in the game.