The Club América vs Real Salt Lake match in the 2025 Leagues Cup ended 2–2 after regular time, with Real Salt Lake winning the penalty shootout 3–1 on July 30, 2025. Diego Luna and William Agada scored for Real Salt Lake, while Brian Rodríguez and Erick Sánchez found the net for Club América. Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral was the hero in the shootout, saving three penalties to help his team secure the extra point.
The match at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, delivered a dramatic finish. Real Salt Lake took the lead twice, but Club América kept fighting and equalized with a late goal from Sánchez in stoppage time. The teams then went to penalties to decide who would earn the additional Leagues Cup point. The result was a useful example of how a football match can end in a draw during regulation but still produce a winner in a tournament shootout.
This article covers the final score, starting lineups, goal scorers, key players, match statistics, penalty shootout and important takeaways from Club América vs Real Salt Lake.
Quick Answer: Who Won Club América vs Real Salt Lake?
Real Salt Lake won the penalty shootout 3–1 after drawing 2–2 with Club América in their 2025 Leagues Cup match on July 30, 2025. Diego Luna scored in the 16th minute, Brian Rodríguez equalized in the 42nd, William Agada scored in first half stoppage time, and Erick Sánchez made it 2–2 in the 97th minute. Rafael Cabral saved three penalties.
Why Do People Confuse Club América and Real Salt Lake?
Club América and Real Salt Lake compete in different domestic leagues. Club América plays in Mexico’s Liga MX, while Real Salt Lake competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Their meeting in the Leagues Cup brought the two clubs together in a competition featuring teams from both leagues.
Fans may also confuse the final result because the match had two outcomes to remember: the 2–2 draw after regulation time and Real Salt Lake’s 3–1 penalty shootout victory. The shootout determined which team earned the additional point under the tournament’s rules.
Here are the key differences:
- Club América: A Mexican club based in Mexico City.
- Real Salt Lake: An American club based in the Salt Lake City area of Utah.
- Liga MX: Mexico’s top professional men’s football league.
- MLS: The top professional men’s football league in the United States and Canada.
- Leagues Cup: A competition involving clubs from MLS and Liga MX.
1. Club América: Team Overview and Starting Lineup
Club América entered the match with an attacking lineup designed to create chances through wide players and central combinations. Brian Rodríguez and Alejandro Zendejas provided attacking support, while Rodrigo Aguirre started as the central forward.
Club América confirmed starting XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Luis Ángel Malagón |
| Defender | Israel Reyes |
| Defender | Igor Lichnovsky |
| Defender | Sebastián Cáceres |
| Defender | Cristian Borja |
| Defensive midfielder | Jonathan dos Santos (captain) |
| Midfielder | Álvaro Fidalgo |
| Attacking midfielder | Isaías Violante |
| Attacking midfielder | Alejandro Zendejas |
| Winger | Brian Rodríguez |
| Forward | Rodrigo Aguirre |
Formation: 4-2-3-1.
Club América substitutes
The matchday squad included players such as Henry Martín, Erick Sánchez, Kevin Álvarez, Alexis Gutiérrez, José Zúñiga and Víctor Dávila.
Several substitutions helped América change its attacking approach during the match. Erick Sánchez came on in the 80th minute and scored the dramatic equalizer in stoppage time.
Key Club América players
- Brian Rodríguez: Scored a free kick in the 42nd minute to make the score 1–1.
- Erick Sánchez: Scored from outside the box in the 97th minute to send the match to penalties.
- Luis Ángel Malagón: Made important saves during regulation and saved Braian Ojeda’s penalty in the shootout.
- Álvaro Fidalgo: Helped connect midfield possession with the attacking players.
- José Zúñiga: Assisted Sánchez’s late equalizer.
2. Real Salt Lake: Team Overview and Starting Lineup
Real Salt Lake, commonly called RSL, started with a 4-4-2 formation. William Agada and Zavier Gozo led the attack, while Diego Luna and Diogo Gonçalves provided creativity from wider or advanced positions.
The team’s goalkeeper, Rafael Cabral, became the standout performer by saving three penalties in the shootout.
Real Salt Lake confirmed starting XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Rafael Cabral (captain) |
| Defender | Noel Caliskan |
| Defender | Justen Glad |
| Defender | Philip Quinton |
| Defender | Sam Junqua |
| Midfielder | Pablo Ruiz |
| Midfielder | Emeka Eneli |
| Midfielder | Diogo Gonçalves |
| Attacking midfielder | Diego Luna |
| Forward | Zavier Gozo |
| Forward | William Agada |
Formation: 4-4-2.
Real Salt Lake substitutes
The matchday squad included Bode Hidalgo, Braian Ojeda, Ariath Piol, Brayan Vera, Alex Katranis, Johnny Russell, and Dominik Marczuk, among others.
RSL made changes during the match to manage its midfield and defensive positions. Braian Ojeda entered in the second half but missed his penalty in the shootout.
Key Real Salt Lake players
- Rafael Cabral: Saved three of Club América’s four penalties in the shootout.
- Diego Luna: Scored the opening goal in the 16th minute.
- William Agada: Scored RSL’s second goal with a header in first-half stoppage time.
- Noel Caliskan: Delivered the cross for Agada’s goal.
- Pablo Ruiz: Scored Real Salt Lake’s opening penalty in the shootout.
3. Club América vs Real Salt Lake Comparison Table
| Category | Club América | Real Salt Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic league | Liga MX | Major League Soccer |
| Starting formation | 4-2-3-1 | 4-4-2 |
| Starting goalkeeper | Luis Ángel Malagón | Rafael Cabral |
| Captain | Jonathan dos Santos | Rafael Cabral |
| First-half goals | 1 | 2 |
| Total goals in regulation | 2 | 2 |
| Total shots | 19 | 11 |
| Shots on target | 7 | 8 |
| Corners | 5 | 0 |
| Penalty shootout goals | 1 | 3 |
| Match outcome | Lost shootout | Won shootout |
The numbers show that América attempted more shots overall, while Real Salt Lake recorded more shots on target. RSL also scored twice before halftime, but América’s late equalizer prevented the home side from winning in regulation.
4. When Should You Use the Match Result or Shootout Result?
Football match reports can display a draw and a winner for the same game. This is not necessarily a mistake.
Use the regulation score when:
- You want to know how many goals each team scored during normal playing time.
- You are describing the match’s 90-minute result, including stoppage time.
- You are discussing goals, assists, and tactical performance.
For this match, the regulation score was Club América 2–2 Real Salt Lake.
Use the shootout result when:
- You want to know which club won the penalty tiebreaker.
- You are explaining how the additional tournament point was awarded.
- You are reporting the final Leagues Cup outcome.
For this match, Real Salt Lake won the shootout 3–1.
5. Ten Important Examples From Club América vs Real Salt Lake
These examples explain the most important events and statistics from the match.
- Opening goal: Diego Luna scored in the 16th minute to give RSL a 1–0 lead.
- Free-kick equalizer: Brian Rodríguez scored in the 42nd minute to make it 1–1.
- Second RSL goal: William Agada headed home in the 45th minute plus stoppage time.
- Late equalizer: Erick Sánchez scored in the 97th minute to make the score 2–2.
- First shootout penalty: Pablo Ruiz scored for Real Salt Lake.
- Important goalkeeper save: Rafael Cabral saved Henry Martín’s penalty.
- Another shootout save: Cabral denied Israel Reyes.
- América’s goalkeeper response: Malagón saved Braian Ojeda’s penalty.
- Decisive moment: Cabral saved José Zúñiga’s penalty to secure the shootout victory.
- Final result: Real Salt Lake won the tiebreaker 3–1 after the 2–2 draw.
6. Common Mistakes When Reading Football Results
Mistake 1: Saying Real Salt Lake Won 3–1 in Regular Time
The 3–1 figure refers to the penalty shootout, not the score during the match.
Correct wording: Real Salt Lake drew 2–2 with Club América and won the penalty shootout 3–1.
Mistake 2: Confusing a Goal With a Penalty Shootout Score
A goal scored during regular time counts toward the match score. A successful shootout penalty determines the tiebreaker outcome and is reported separately.
Mistake 3: Assuming More Shots Always Mean More Goals
Club América attempted 19 shots compared with RSL’s 11, but RSL recorded eight shots on target compared with América’s seven.
The total number of attempts does not automatically determine the winner.
Mistake 4: Treating a Formation as Unchanging
A 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 describes a team’s initial shape. Players may move into different areas when attacking or defending.
Mistake 5: Ignoring the Goalkeeper’s Contribution
Cabral’s penalty saves were central to the result. A match can be decided by defensive performance even when both teams score multiple goals.
7. Memory Trick: Remember the Score and Goal Scorers
Use this simple sequence to remember the match:
- 16′: Diego Luna — RSL leads 1–0.
- 42′: Brian Rodríguez — 1–1.
- 45+2′: William Agada — RSL leads 2–1.
- 90+7′: Erick Sánchez — 2–2.
- Penalty shootout: RSL wins 3–1.
A quick memory phrase is “Luna opens, Rodríguez answers, Agada restores the lead, Sánchez saves América.” Cabral then decides the shootout with three saves.
8. American vs British English in Football
Because Club América and Real Salt Lake come from Mexico and the United States, football fans may encounter both American and British English terms.
| British English | American English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Soccer | The sport played by the two clubs |
| Match | Game | A contest between teams |
| Line-up | Lineup | The players selected to start |
| Pitch | Field | The playing surface |
| Goalkeeper | Goalie | The player who protects the goal |
| Substitutes | Bench players | Players available to enter the game |
| Penalty shootout | Penalty shootout | A tiebreaker using kicks from the penalty mark |
| Stoppage time | Added time | Time added at the end of a half |
Both varieties are understandable. “Football” is commonly used internationally, while “soccer” is widely used in the United States.
9. Similar Searches Related to Club América vs Real Salt Lake
Fans looking for more details may also search for:
- Club América vs Real Salt Lake lineups
- Club América vs Real Salt Lake final score
- Club América vs Real Salt Lake goals
- Club América vs Real Salt Lake match stats
- Club América vs Real Salt Lake penalty shootout
- Diego Luna goal vs Club América
- Brian Rodríguez free kick goal
- Erick Sánchez stoppage time equalizer
- Rafael Cabral penalty saves
- Real Salt Lake Leagues Cup 2025 results
These searches cover different aspects of the same fixture, including the starting teams, match statistics, goal scorers, and shootout.
10. Final Verdict: How Did Real Salt Lake Beat Club América?
Real Salt Lake earned the extra Leagues Cup point by winning the penalty shootout 3–1 after a 2–2 draw. Diego Luna and William Agada scored for RSL, while Brian Rodríguez and Erick Sánchez scored for Club América. The late equalizer meant neither side could settle the match during regulation.
Rafael Cabral was the decisive figure in the shootout, saving three of América’s four penalties. Malagón also made a shootout save, but RSL converted three of its attempts and secured the win. The game showed how attacking chances, late goals, and goalkeeper performance can combine to decide a closely contested match.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won Club América vs Real Salt Lake?
Real Salt Lake won the penalty shootout 3–1 after the match finished 2–2 during regulation time on July 30, 2025.
2. What was the final score of Club América vs Real Salt Lake?
The regulation score was 2–2. Real Salt Lake then won the penalty shootout 3–1 to secure the additional Leagues Cup point.
3. Who scored for Club América?
Brian Rodríguez scored in the 42nd minute, and Erick Sánchez scored in the 97th minute to equalize late in the match.
4. Who scored for Real Salt Lake?
Diego Luna scored in the 16th minute, and William Agada scored in first-half stoppage time at 45+2′.
5. Who was the best player in Club América vs Real Salt Lake?
Rafael Cabral was a standout performer. He made important saves during regulation and saved three penalties in the shootout, helping Real Salt Lake win.
6. How many shots did Club América and Real Salt Lake have?
Club América attempted 19 shots, including seven on target. Real Salt Lake attempted 11 shots, with eight on target.
7. Where was Club América vs Real Salt Lake played?
The match took place at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, on July 30, 2025, during the Leagues Cup.
Remember This
- Regulation score: Club América 2–2 Real Salt Lake.
- Shootout result: Real Salt Lake won 3–1.
- Club América scorers: Brian Rodríguez and Erick Sánchez.
- Real Salt Lake scorers: Diego Luna and William Agada.
- Shootout hero: Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral.
- Competition: 2025 Leagues Cup.
Conclusion
The Club América vs Real Salt Lake match was a dramatic Leagues Cup contest that finished 2–2 before going to penalties. Real Salt Lake scored twice in the first half, but Club América fought back and forced a shootout with Sánchez’s late equalizer. The match featured four goals, several important saves, and a tense finish.
Real Salt Lake ultimately secured the extra point by winning the penalty shootout 3–1. Cabral’s three penalty saves made the difference, while Luna, Agada, Rodríguez and Sánchez supplied the goals that shaped the match. For fans reviewing the result, it is important to keep the regulation score and shootout result separate.
