Real Salt Lake Youngsters Secure 2-1 Win Over Seattle

Four players from the Real Monarchs MLS Next Pro team make an impact in the victory.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Real Salt Lake's young talent shone through as four players from the club's MLS Next Pro team, the Real Monarchs, helped secure a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders. Zavier Gozo, Luca Moisa, Aiden Hezarkhani, and Ari Piol all made an impact in the match, demonstrating the depth of RSL's youth development pipeline.

Why it matters

The success of these young players highlights Real Salt Lake's commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and providing a clear pathway from the academy to the first team. Their performance also underscores the growing importance of MLS Next Pro as a developmental league that can produce MLS-ready players.

The details

The four Real Monarchs players all played key roles in the victory over Seattle. Gozo and Moisa scored the two goals for RSL, while Hezarkhani and Piol provided solid defensive support throughout the match.

  • The match took place on March 1, 2026 in Sandy, Utah.

The players

Zavier Gozo

A young forward from the Real Monarchs MLS Next Pro team who scored one of Real Salt Lake's goals in the 2-1 victory.

Luca Moisa

A midfielder from the Real Monarchs MLS Next Pro team who scored the other goal for Real Salt Lake in the 2-1 win.

Aiden Hezarkhani

A defender from the Real Monarchs MLS Next Pro team who provided solid defensive support for Real Salt Lake in the match.

Ari Piol

A midfielder from the Real Monarchs MLS Next Pro team who also contributed to Real Salt Lake's defensive effort in the 2-1 victory.

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What they’re saying

“It's something that we've all manifested. We've all been working hard and it's finally paying off.”

— Zavier Gozo (The Salt Lake Tribune)

What’s next

Real Salt Lake will look to build on this win as they continue their MLS season, with the young players from the Monarchs hoping to earn more minutes with the first team.

The takeaway

Real Salt Lake's victory showcases the strength of their youth development system, with several promising young players from the Monarchs making an impact at the MLS level and demonstrating the club's commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.