Real Salt Lake are enjoying some of their best spell in form in years, and currently sit fourth in the MLS Western Conference, just four points off the top of the table. After statement wins over the likes of Orlando City and league leaders St. Louis CITY in recent weeks, the Utah outfit could not have hoped for a better lead-up to their Leagues Cup 2023 campaign this summer.
The Claret and Cobalt find themselves in the West 2 group for the tournament, in which they will face Seattle Sounders FC on July 22 at their America First Field home ground, before welcoming LIGA MX side CF Monterrey to town four days later. The team will be looking to improve on their maiden Leagues Cup performance back in 2019, when they fell at the first hurdle to Club Tigres.
One of the key features of Real Salt Lake’s impressive campaign has been the consistency across the squad - the goals are spread out across the squad, rather than relying on one single player to deliver the goods. Currently, Danny Musovski and Jefferson Savarino lead the scoring charts with five each.
But it’s a more recent arrival that promises to make a splash for Real Salt Lake at this year’s Leagues Cup. In his first two appearances since joining, Cristian “Chicho” Arango has already registered a goal and an assist, and the Colombian international is showing no signs of slowing down. While the limelight will be for the team’s more established internationals, it’s worth also keeping an eye on some of the up-and-coming prospects who are breaking through, including 19-year-old attacking midfielder Diego Luna.
Cristian Arango - a centre-forward with an impressive track record
The 28-year-old is well aware of what it takes to be an MLS success, having found the net 30 times across two years with Los Angeles FC and playing a key role in their all-conquering campaign last season.
The Medellín native previously had spells at Envigado and Millonarios in his home country, as well as early-career stints in Portugal and Spain. He was off the mark straight away in a 4-0 win over Orlando City earlier this month. Arango’s impressive movement across the front line and sense of space make him an ideal operator up top. When he’s not firing one past the goalkeeper, the forward is more than capable of holding the ball up and involving his onrushing teammates, proving a valuable asset who can only bolster Real Salt Lake’s prospects.
Diego Luna - the youth international who’s ready to play a key role
Having propelled himself to the first team at just 18 years of age, it would have been easy for Diego Luna to fluff his lines - instead, the attacking midfielder has taken it all in his stride and has seamlessly become a regular for the MLS side.
Luna starred for the USA in this summer’s U20 World Cup in Argentina - leading the team to the quarter-finals - and picked up where he left off on his return to Utah. He scored his first MLS goal against St. Louis CITY in June, and has already racked up 25 appearances for the club in league play so far. One to watch as he steps up onto the international stage again.
