US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: REAL SALT LAKE 4

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US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: REAL SALT LAKE 4 - 1 BURNLEY

Clarets fall to defeat in Salt Lake

2026-07-16T06:28+01:00

US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: REAL SALT LAKE 4 - 1 BURNLEY

Clarets fall to defeat in Salt Lake

2026-07-16T06:28+01:00

US PRE-SEASON MATCH REPORT: REAL SALT LAKE 4 - 1 BURNLEY

Burnley's pre-season tour of the US came to an end on Wednesday night with a 4-1 defeat to MLS side Real Salt Lake at the America First Field stadium.

Despite the result, it was another evening of all the playing squad getting more minutes into their legs and building on their fitness, after a demanding week of training in Ohio and Utah.

Salt Lake striker Sergi Solans opened the scoring for the home side with his first goal of the night in first-half stoppage time in Utah, before the Clarets drew level through Florentino’s first Burnley goal 10 minutes into the second-half.

However, the American side were back ahead just a few moments later, as Zavier Gozo struck to regain Salt Lake’s advantage, before Solans bagged his second of the evening with just under 20 minutes left.

Diego Luna then put the game out of sight from the spot, after the home side were awarded a penalty with eight minutes to go.

As Clarets boss Nicky Hayen took to the sideline for the first time after being appointed last week, it was the hosts who started brightly and came close to breaking the deadlock with just a couple of minutes played, as Solans broke through on goal and into the area, but his effort from close range was blocked and out for a corner.

In what was a lively opening in Salt Lake City, the Clarets were then awarded a penalty in the 4th minute.

Armando Broja was clattered from behind inside the box, but the striker stepped up and saw his spot-kick denied by the hands of Rafael Cabral.

The next opportunity fell to Real Salt Lake, as JuanMa Sanabria picked out Gozo with a cross towards the back-post, which the striker could only steer narrowly wide of the target from an unmarked position.

As the friendly reached the half-hour mark, Burnley were pushing for the opener and next up to try his luck was Jacob Bruun Larsen, but the winger’s strike sailed wide of post.

Real Salt Lake replied to that with another chance of their own, but Max Weiss was there to deny Luna’s stinging effort heading towards the bottom corner to force a corner.

With half-time approaching, the Clarets came inches close to snatching the lead when Bashir Humphreys rose highest at the back-post from a corner, but could only guide his header into the side netting.

As the game entered first-half stoppage time, the hosts then broke the deadlock, as Solans latched onto Gozo’s through ball into the area, before slotting home past Weiss into the bottom corner to give the home side the lead at the break.

Despite Salt Lake carving open an early chance in the 48th minute through a Solans header, it was the Clarets who struck level 10 minutes into the second-half.

The ball fell to Florentino on the edge of area, with the midfielder drilling it into the bottom corner past the hands of Cabral for his first goal in Claret and Blue.

However, the scores were level for just over five minutes, as the MLS side regained their advantage once again through Gozo’s strike.

With the game really opening up, Burnley did come close to levelling again, but Broja’s fierce effort sailed over the target.

The Clarets then made nine changes after surpassing the 65th minute mark in Utah, with the visitors pushing to draw level once again.

Depsite Hayen's side applying plenty of pressure on the hosts and coming close to equalising, it was Salt Lake who added two more goals to their tally.

First Solans fired home his second of the night with a well-worked finish, before Luna stepped-up to the penalty spot seven minutes from time to add a fourth and put the game out of sight.

Burnley: Weiss, Walker (Pimlott 65), Roberts (Sonne 65), Humphreys (Worrall 65), Pires (Campbell 65), Laurent (Ramsey 65), Florentino (Castell 65), Tresor (McMahon-Brown 83), Banel (Koleosho 65), Bruun Larsen (Savage 65), Broja (Hountondji 65)

Unused substitutes: Edwards, Obafemi

Real Salt Lake: Cabral, Yedlin, Quinton, Engel, Sanabria, Gozo, Spierings, Caliskan, Guilavogui, Luna, Solans

Goals: Solans 45+1’, Florentino 55’, Gozo 61’, Solans 73', Luna 82' (Pen)