RSL, now winless in 3, drops 2-1 result to Seattle Sounders

Despite an attacking surge late in the second half, Real Salt Lake wasn’t able to find an equalizer and they dropped all three points to the reigning MLS Cup Champions Seattle Sounders with a 2-1 result.

Freddy Juarez opted to run a 5-3-2 formation tonight, with Corey Baird and Sam Johnson paired in the attack while Pablo Ruiz, Kyle Beckerman, and Justin Portillo made up the midfield. The five-man backline consisted of Tate Schmitt and Aaron Herrera on the left and right wings respectively, while Justen Glad, Erik Holt, and Nick Besler made up the center back trio.

The Sounders thought they got off to an early start when Jordan Morris knocked the ball in the back of the net less than a minute after kick-off, but the referee called it back due to an offside call, as the score remained 0-0 to start the game.

Seattle would get that goal back in the 28th minute when Roldan collected a pass from Nicolas Lodeiro and sent in a ball toward Will Bruin, who dummied it and let the ball fly through to a waiting Jordan Morris for an easy tap-in right past Andrew Putna, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the first half.

The two sides were relatively evenly split on paper throughout the first 45 minutes, with both teams splitting 50% of possession, while RSL logged five shots overall to Seattle’s four, but the Sounders notched the only shot on goal in the first half which ended up being the goal Morris scored in the 28th.

Lodeiro got his second assist of the night when he sent a free kick in toward RSL’s goal and Yeimar Gomez Andrade was easily able to head it in as he was completely unmarked on his run toward goal. Putna was caught completely off guard and the home side would double their lead with 30 minutes left to play.

RSL pulled one back not long after, thanks to an own goal by the opposing team for the second game in a row. Maikel Chang sent a left-footed cross into the box, but Seattle defender Nouhou Tolo outstretched his foot and accidentally knocked it into the back of the net past Stefan Frei.

Although both teams had some decent chances down the stretch, neither team was able to find the back of the net and the game ended 2-1 in favor of the home side.

Lineups

Real Salt Lake
Putna; Herrera (86’ Meram), Glad, Holt, Besler, Schmitt; Ruiz, Beckerman (86’ Ramirez), Portillo; Baird (66’ Chang), Johnson (66’ Martinez)

Seattle Sounders FC
Frei; Leerdam (86’ A. Roldan), Gomez, O’Neill, Tolo (86’ Torres); Delem, Joao Paulo; C. Roldan, Lodeiro, Morris; Bruin (64’ Smith)

Discipline

26’ SEA - Jordy Delem (yellow card)
70’ SEA - Shane O’Neill (yellow card)
76’ RSL - Nick Besler (yellow card)

Scoring

28’ SEA - Jordan Morris (Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro)
61’ SEA - Yeimar Gomez Andrade (Nicolas Lodeiro)
68’ RSL - Nouhou Tolo (OG)