SJ Earthquakes 2-1 Real Salt Lake: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How SJ Earthquakes won it

SJ Earthquakes struck first through Ousseni Bouda in the 2nd minute. Benji Kikanović made it 2-0 to SJ Earthquakes in the 17th minute, set up by Jamar Ricketts. Juan Manuel Sanabria made it 2-1 to Real Salt Lake in the 23rd minute, set up by Sam Junqua.

It was 2-1 at half-time, and nothing changed after the break.

The referee, L. Hernandez, showed 4 yellow cards: 2 to SJ Earthquakes and 2 to Real Salt Lake.

SJ Earthquakes: B. Arena, 3-1-4-2 · Real Salt Lake: P. Mastroeni, 3-4-2-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

The pre-match estimate had 2-1 as the single most likely score (10%). That is the score it ended.

On goals the estimate was close: about 3.1 expected, 3 scored.

Over 2.5 goals had been put at 59%; with 3 goals the over came in, as the estimate leaned.

Both teams to score was 60%; both did, in line with the estimate.

Computed before kick-off from both sides' season goals and expected goals as of 2026-10-31, through a Dixon-Coles score model, and left as it was.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.20 for SJ Earthquakes and 2.16 for Real Salt Lake.

Real Salt Lake left about 1.2 goals' worth of chances on the pitch.

Real Salt Lake created the better chances, 2.16 xG to 1.20, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

The run of play itself went against the pre-match reading: Moneyball expected SJ Earthquakes to create more, and Real Salt Lake did.

SJ Earthquakes had 5 shots on target, Real Salt Lake 5.

Real Salt Lake had 57% of the ball, but SJ Earthquakes took the points.

Where the two sides stood before this match

SJ Earthquakes came into it with 34 MLS matches played, scoring 1.7 and conceding 1.5 a match, with 1.78 expected goals for and 1.39 against, and had won 41% of their matches.

Real Salt Lake came into it with 34 MLS matches played, scoring 1.6 and conceding 1.5 a match, with 1.50 expected goals for and 1.49 against, and had won 38% of their matches.

SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Juan Manuel Sanabria (Real Salt Lake), rated 8.0 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal.

SJ Earthquakes

• Ousseni Bouda 7.6 1 goal
• Reid Roberts 7.3
• Benji Kikanović 7.2 1 goal
• Dave Romney 7.2
• Jamar Ricketts 7.2 1 assist

Real Salt Lake

• Juan Manuel Sanabria 8.0 1 goal
• Philip Quinton 7.4
• Stijn Spierings 7.1
• Sam Junqua 6.9 1 assist
• Noel Caliskan 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Rafael Cabral at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• SJ Earthquakes: SJ Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo Wednesday 25 November 2026 · MLS
• Real Salt Lake: Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake Friday 20 November 2026 · MLS

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake

What was the score in SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

SJ Earthquakes 2-1 Real Salt Lake (half-time 2-1), MLS, Saturday 31 October 2026.

Who scored in SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

Ousseni Bouda 2', Benji Kikanović 17', Juan Manuel Sanabria 23'.

Did Moneyball predict SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake correctly?

The pre-match estimate had 2-1 as the single most likely score (10%). That is the score it ended.

Who was man of the match in SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

Juan Manuel Sanabria, rated 8.0 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed SJ Earthquakes vs Real Salt Lake?

L. Hernandez.