Real Salt Lake drops 2-1 result in Seattle

Real Salt Lake, despite equalizing from a second-half deficit, ultimately dropped all three points in Seattle thanks to a penalty from Raul Ruidiaz in the 88th minute. Tonight also marked the MLS debut of Bobby Wood as he came off the bench midway through the second half.

The first half was all Seattle as they controlled 63 percent of possession, and the ball always seemed to be in their attacking half of the field. They logged nine shots overall and tested David Ochoa with two on frame while Real Salt Lake Sent in three overall shots with one on frame. Those shots came near the end of the first 45 as the Sounders set the pace and controlled the game for the majority of the first half. Luckily, the score remained 0-0 heading into the halftime break.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute when Cristian Roldan put one past Ochoa to take the lead. Raul Ruidiaz sent in a cross from the right side of the field into the box where Roldan knocked it to a wide open Will Bruin streaking toward goal. Bruin’s shot was blocked by Ochoa, but Roldan collected the rebound and sent it into the back of the net while all Ochoa could do was watch.

It looked like for a split second the Sounders got another one around the 75th minute when Ruidiaz went for a header on a cross, but he missed and smacked the ball into the net with his hand instead. Referee Ted Unkel called it immediately and issued him a yellow card.

On the very next play, RSL earned a penalty when Sounders ‘keeper Stefan Cleveland went to ground and took Rubio Rubin down in the box in an attempt to collect the ball. Unkel pointed to the spot, and Albert Rusnak stepped to the line and calmly sent it in past Cleveland, grabbing the equalizer for the visitors and notching his first goal of the season.

Less than 10 minutes later, Seattle earned a penalty of their own when a ball deflected off of Ruidiaz hit Anderson Julio’s arm in the air, and Ted Unkel again pointed to the spot. Raul Ruidiaz stepped to it and sent it down the middle, catching Ochoa diving to his right to grab the lead back for the home team with just minutes left to play.

Real Salt Lake was unable to find an equalizer even through seven minutes of stoppage time, and the game finished with Seattle on top with a score of 2-1, remaining unbeaten in their first 10 games of the season now. Real Salt Lake returns home to face Houston this weekend.

Lineups

Real Salt Lake
Ochoa; Herrera, Glad, Silva, Brody (74’ Toia); Luiz (67’ Ruiz), Besler (67’ Wood); Meram (80’ Julio), Kreilach, Rusnak; Rubin

Seattle Sounders
Cleveland; A. Roldan, Gomez, O’Neill, Sissoko, Medranda (66’ Smith); Rowe (85’ Atencio), Paulo; C. Roldan, Bruin (85’ Montero); Ruidiaz

Discipline

40’ - RSL - Everton Luiz (yellow)
76’ - SEA - Raul Ruidiaz (yellow)
88’ - RSL - David Ochoa (yellow)

Scoring

58’ - SEA - Cristian Roldan
79’ - RSL - Albert Rusnak (PK)
88’ - SEA - Raul Ruidiaz (PK)