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Real Salt Lake takes lead before halftime but has to settle for a draw vs. Kansas City

RSL’s Johnny Russell scores against his former team, but Sporting Kansas City gets a second-half equalizer

Real Salt Lake striker Johnny Russell, right, shown during a game against the Colorado Rapids on May 17, scored for RSL in a draw with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Real Salt Lake striker Johnny Russell, right, shown during a game against the Colorado Rapids on May 17, scored for RSL in a draw with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/sltrib/d23c9c3d-6a35-4583-8f7c-a59ca4e57a79.png The Salt Lake Tribune
 | June 28, 2025, 9:18 p.m.
| Updated: 9:20 p.m.

Looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season, Real Salt Lake instead had to settle for a 1-1 draw against host Sporting Kansas City in a Major League Soccer game on Saturday.

Johnny Russell scored against his former team during first-half stoppage time to give RSL (5-10-4) a 1-0 lead.

Russell scored with a header off a long pass from Alexandros Katranis.

But Erik Thommy scored in the 59th minute for Sporting Kansas City (4-10-5) to tie the game.

RSL played without All-Star midfielder Diego Luna, who is with the U.S. Men’s National Team for the Gold Cup tournament.

RSL had a 21-13 advantage in shots in the game, including a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp stopped eight shots, while RSL’s Rafael Cabrera stopped three.

RSL is scheduled to return to action on Saturday, July 5, against St. Louis SC at America First Field in Sandy (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

RSL will host seven of its next eight matches at home from July 5 through Aug. 6, including a trio of 2025 Leagues Cup matches.

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