Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Matt Montgomery of Wasatch Soccer Sentinel
On this Pi Day, we connect with Wasatch Soccer Sentinel to learn more about RSL ahead of Saturday night's match in Sandy. That includes info about three teenage players making a difference.
Austin FC makes its annual trip to Sandy, Utah, facing Real Salt Lake in a Western Conference matchup that doesn't always go Verde's way when they head to the Wasatch Mountains.
The matchup gets discussed some in the latest Emergency Podcast, which also includes mention of the Summer of '94 documentary about the 1994 U.S. Men's National Team as World Cup hosts, which debuts tonight as counterprogramming to the Austin-RSL matchup (but screens two other times this week, in case you want to see both, as I imagine most of you would).
To get some better insight, I turned to Matt Montgomery of Wasatch Soccer Sentinel, which amply covers RSL. I also returned the favor, answering questions about Verde, including gauging my optimism level for this match, which is, well, not high.
To the questions!
What's going on with Diego Luna? I know some Austin fans were wishcasting that he'd somehow move over here in a cashfer trade, even though he's seemingly now the face of the franchise. But he's also started the season hurt — what's his timetable for returning?
It seems his timetable is "soon," though I don't have much clarity beyond just that. He's been seen in training videos, so I wouldn't be surprised if "soon" means "Saturday," which would be good news (for me) indeed.
I'm not sure why Austin fans would think they have any opportunity at signing him, though. You'll have to pry him from my — wait, maybe not that. At any rate, the assumption we all have here in Salt Lake is that he'll be off to a European side in the summer, but that depends somewhat on him having a good World Cup (and, indeed, making the team).
But, no, you cannot have him. I'm sorry.
Who are the young players who have stepped up to start the season, and was this expected?
Zavier Gozo, just 19, has proven himself an important player and a near-guaranteed starter for Real Salt Lake. He has continued stepping up, and he's done quite well for himself.
The other two teenage players, Luca Moisa (17) and Aiden Hezarkhani (18), were not expected at all, though.
Moisa hadn't sniffed the first team outside of preseason, and starting on opening day was born largely out of necessity; he's fared extremely well, considering his age and relative lack of experience, and he's even shown some really nice qualities that will help RSL's midfield. Hezarkhani likewise wasn't expected to make an immediate impact, but he's quickly becoming undroppable with his finishing ability. He is a bit of a giveaway machine, but that's RSL's problem, not yours.
It's quite an embarrassment of riches we've got here, and it's honestly a little weird to see that all come together after a decade of struggling.
Morgan Guilavogui seems like the consummate "sure, maybe he'll work pick" that RSL's made lately with its high-profile acquisitions. What are you seeing so far, and do you think he'll fare better than, say, Rwan Cruz or Diogo Gonçalves?
It's funny, Guilavogui actually already had more of an impact than Rwan Cruz, whose loan was cut short to start the year. Cruz was a massive dud. Guilavogui is, I think, not the striker some think he is — he's not a natural goalscorer, the stats tell us — but he also offers a ton from deeper positions in the midfield. He can help unlock RSL's counterattack, which is sort of a must-have in MLS, and certainly when you've got Zavier Gozo bombing up the wing.
As for Diogo Goncalves, yes. I think Guilavogui is already there. It's been a weird 18 months for RSL.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Nico Estévez said that Guilherme Biro's red card on Saturday was not just a disservice to Biro and the whole team, but to soccer. Still, there are lessons to learn from this otherwise forgettable match.
This match had nearly everything ... except for an Austin FC player scoring a goal, or Austin FC getting a result. The team's first road match of 2026 was, in a word, nightmarish.
Austin FC makes its annual trip to Sandy, Utah, facing Real Salt Lake in a Western Conference matchup that doesn't always go Verde's way when they head to the Wasatch Mountains.
The matchup gets discussed some in the latest Emergency Podcast, which also includes mention of the Summer of '94 documentary about the 1994 U.S. Men's National Team as World Cup hosts, which debuts tonight as counterprogramming to the Austin-RSL matchup (but screens two other times this week, in case you want to see both, as I imagine most of you would).
To get some better insight, I turned to Matt Montgomery of Wasatch Soccer Sentinel, which amply covers RSL. I also returned the favor, answering questions about Verde, including gauging my optimism level for this match, which is, well, not high.
To the questions!
What's going on with Diego Luna? I know some Austin fans were wishcasting that he'd somehow move over here in a cashfer trade, even though he's seemingly now the face of the franchise. But he's also started the season hurt — what's his timetable for returning?
It seems his timetable is "soon," though I don't have much clarity beyond just that. He's been seen in training videos, so I wouldn't be surprised if "soon" means "Saturday," which would be good news (for me) indeed.
I'm not sure why Austin fans would think they have any opportunity at signing him, though. You'll have to pry him from my — wait, maybe not that. At any rate, the assumption we all have here in Salt Lake is that he'll be off to a European side in the summer, but that depends somewhat on him having a good World Cup (and, indeed, making the team).
But, no, you cannot have him. I'm sorry.
Who are the young players who have stepped up to start the season, and was this expected?
Zavier Gozo, just 19, has proven himself an important player and a near-guaranteed starter for Real Salt Lake. He has continued stepping up, and he's done quite well for himself.
The other two teenage players, Luca Moisa (17) and Aiden Hezarkhani (18), were not expected at all, though.
Moisa hadn't sniffed the first team outside of preseason, and starting on opening day was born largely out of necessity; he's fared extremely well, considering his age and relative lack of experience, and he's even shown some really nice qualities that will help RSL's midfield. Hezarkhani likewise wasn't expected to make an immediate impact, but he's quickly becoming undroppable with his finishing ability. He is a bit of a giveaway machine, but that's RSL's problem, not yours.
It's quite an embarrassment of riches we've got here, and it's honestly a little weird to see that all come together after a decade of struggling.
Morgan Guilavogui seems like the consummate "sure, maybe he'll work pick" that RSL's made lately with its high-profile acquisitions. What are you seeing so far, and do you think he'll fare better than, say, Rwan Cruz or Diogo Gonçalves?
It's funny, Guilavogui actually already had more of an impact than Rwan Cruz, whose loan was cut short to start the year. Cruz was a massive dud. Guilavogui is, I think, not the striker some think he is — he's not a natural goalscorer, the stats tell us — but he also offers a ton from deeper positions in the midfield. He can help unlock RSL's counterattack, which is sort of a must-have in MLS, and certainly when you've got Zavier Gozo bombing up the wing.
As for Diogo Goncalves, yes. I think Guilavogui is already there. It's been a weird 18 months for RSL.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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