SEATTLE, WASH. – Nicolás Lodeiro scored his first MLS goal as Seattle Sounders FC (8-12-3, 27 points) earned three points at home over third-place Real Salt Lake (10-8-7, 37 points) Sunday on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Jordan Morris produced the game-winner for his team-leading eighth goal of the season as Seattle extended its three-match unbeaten streak under Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. The Rave Green return to action next Sunday in a nationally-televised home Cascadia Cup clash against the Portland Timbers (6:30 p.m. PT / FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
For the third match in a row since joining Sounders FC at the end of July, Lodeiro led the line for Seattle, bagging his first goal in Rave Green in the 24th minute of action. Forward Clint Dempsey initiated the attack from midfield, providing a pass to Andreas Ivanschitz on the left flank, with the Austrian serving an assist into the feet of the Uruguayan inside RSL’s area. Lodeiro comfortably slotted home his first Seattle strike, giving the home side a 1-0 lead.
Sounders FC doubled its advantage before the halftime whistle, with Lodeiro reprising his role as creator, this time slotting a pint-point cross to Jordan Morris. The Sounders FC rookie netted his team-leading eighth goal of the year, with Dempsey being credited with second assist of 2016 for initiating the attack. For Lodeiro, his cross was his third assist of the campaign in just three MLS matches.
Lodeiro becomes the first player in club history to record three assists and one goal in his first three matches. Other notable performances through three contests include Fredy Montero (three goals, one assist) and Osvaldo Alonso (three assists). He joins Giovani dos Santos as the only two active Designed Players across MLS with at least three assists and one goal through their first three MLS matches.
RSL secured a goal of its own in the 62nd minute of play after forward Yura Movsisyan disrupted Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei inside his own area, allowing the target man to pounce on the ball and play a pass to teammate Joao Plata. The Ecuadorian converted for the visiting side, putting the score at 2-1.
Unbeaten over its past three MLS matches under Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, Sounders FC now turns its focus to a two-match swing against archrival Portland Timbers, beginning with the club’s lone home contest against Caleb Porter’s side on Sunday, August 21. Kickoff for that full-stadium match is slated for 6:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field, with FOX Sports 1 televising the match nationally, and KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM providing regional radio coverage.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Real Salt Lake 1
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistants: Chris Strickland, Kermit Quisenberry
Fourth Official: Dave Gantar
Attendance: 39,491
Weather: Sunny and 76 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (Andreas Ivanschitz) 24’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Nicolás Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey) 37’
RSL – Joao Plata (Yura Movsisyan) 62’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RSL – Justen Glad (caution) 90’+4’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans – captain, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan; Nicolás Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey (Herculez Gomez 90’+1’), Andreas Ivanschitz (Erik Friberg 69’); Jordan Morris (Nelson Valdez 83’)
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Alvaro Fernandez, Oalex Anderson
Total shots: 18 (Dempsey, 6)
Shots on goal: 5 (Roldan/Lodeiro, 2)
Fouls: 7 (7 players, 1)
Offside: 1 (Dempsey, 1)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)
Real Salt Lake – Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran (John Stertzer 87’), Jamison Olave, Justen Glad, Demar Phillips; Kyle Beckerman – captain, Javier Morales, Luke Mulholland (Omar Holness 85’); Juan Manuel Martinez, Olmes Garcia (Yura Movsisyan HT)
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Chris Schuler, Chris Wingert, Phanuel Kavita
Total shots: 9 (Mulholland, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (4 players, 1)
Fouls: 13 (5 players, 1)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Morales, 2)
Saves: 3 (Rimando, 3)
MATCH NOTES
- Seattle Sounders FC improves to 8-12-3 in the 2016 MLS Regular Season, including a three-match unbeaten streak. With 27 points, the Rave Green remain in ninth place in the Western Conference and are five points below the postseason cut-off line.
- Seattle is now 7-8-6 all-time versus RSL in league action, including a 6-2-2 mark at CenturyLink Field. The home side has won each of the past nine contests since the start of the 2013 campaign.
- Nico Lodeiro netted his first MLS goal in the 24th minute on Andreas Ivanschitz’s team-high sixth assist of the season. Lodeiro becomes the first player in club history to record three assists and one goal in his first three matches. Other notable performances through three contests include Fredy Montero (three goals, one assist) and Osvaldo Alonso (three assists). He joins Giovani dos Santos as the only two active Designed Players across MLS with at least three assists and one goal through their first three MLS matches.
- In the second half, Clint Dempsey missed the first penalty-kick of his MLS career. Previously, Dempsey was 4-4 from the spot in league action.
- The Rave Green improve to 5-0-0 when leading at halftime and 6-1-1 when Jordan Morris scores. Morris netted his team-leading eighth tally of the season in the first half.
- Sounders FC Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is unbeaten in three matches (2-0-1) in the managerial role, recording a draw versus the LA Galaxy and wins against Orlando City SC and Real Salt Lake.
