MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC falls 3-0 on the road to Real Salt Lake in opening match of Leagues Cup 2023

In its opening match of the Group Stage of Leagues Cup 2023, Sounders FC fell 3-0 at Real Salt Lake Saturday evening at America First Field. After a scoreless first half, the home side scored three unanswered goals in the second half to take the victory and jump to the top of West Group 2 with three points. Seattle now returns home to face Liga MX power CF Monterrey on Sunday, July 30 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (6:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, FS1, UniMás, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

•    Sounders FC sits in third place with zero points through one match in West Group 2 of Leagues Cup 2023. The Rave Green conclude Group Stage action next Sunday at home vs. CF Monterrey. RSL faces Monterrey on Wednesday, July 26 at America First Field.

•    With the start this evening, Stefan Frei tied Osvaldo Alonso for the most all-competition appearances for Sounders FC in the MLS era (339). Frei already passed Alonso earlier this season in all-competition starts.

•    There were no changes to Coach Schmetzer’s starting XI from last weekend’s match vs. FC Dallas. 

•    Nico Lodeiro remained in Seattle due to feeling some right adductor pain late this week. The move is mainly precautionary, as the injury is not expected to be long-term.

•    RSL defender Marcelo Silva was issued a red card in the 60th minute, forcing the home side to play with 10 men for the final half hour of the match.

•    In Leagues Cup 2023, the top two teams from each group advance to compete in the single-match elimination Knockout Rounds, beginning with the Round of 32 on August 2-4, followed by the Round of 16 on August 6-8, the Quarterfinals on August 11-12 and the two Semifinal matches on August 15. The Leagues Cup 2023 Final and Third Place match are being held on Saturday, August 19, determining the three clubs that qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions League.

MATCH SUMMARY
 
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Real Salt Lake 3
Leagues Cup 2023 – Group Stage
Saturday, July 22, 2023

Venue: America First Field
Referee: Guillermo Pacheco Larios
Assistants: Michel Alejandro Morales Morales, Jéssica Fernanda Morales Morales
Fourth Official: Iván López Sánchez
VAR: Óscar Mejía García
Attendance: 10,507
Weather: 94 degrees and clear
 
SCORING SUMMARY

RSL – Jefferson Savarino 48’
RSL – Cristian Arango (Pablo Ruiz) 51’
RSL – Rubio Rubín 88’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
 
RSL – Bryan Oviedo (caution) 33’
RSL – Cristian Arango (caution) 45’+2’
SEA – Yeimar (caution) 45’+2’
RSL – Marcelo Silva (ejection) 60’
RSL – Brayan Vera (caution) 81’

LINEUPS & STATS
 
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar (Abdoulaye Cissoko 54’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; João Paulo (Héber 70’), Obed Vargas (Josh Atencio 46’), Cristian Roldan (Dylan Teves 46’), Albert Rusnák, Léo Chú (Jordan Morris 46’); Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Jacob Castro, Fredy Montero, Cody Baker, Reed Baker-Whiting

Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 5
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 4
Saves: 4

Real Salt Lake – Zac MacMath; Bryan Oviedo, Brayan Vera, Marcelo Silva, Emeka Eneli; Diego Luna (Rubio Rubín 72’), Pablo Ruiz (Jasper Löffelsend 84’), Braian Ojeda, Jefferson Savarino (Bode Hidalgo 72’); Cristian Arango (Justen Glad 63’), Danny Musovski (Anderson Julio 72’)

Substitutes not used: Tomas Gómez, Gavin Beaver, Nelson Palacio, Damir Kreilach, Bertin Jacquesson, Scott Caldwell

Total shots: 19
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 11
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1