MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC suffers 1-0 road loss Saturday evening to Real Salt Lake

Damir Kreilach scored the game’s lone goal as Sounders FC (13-5-6, 45 points) fell 1-0 on the road to Real Salt Lake (10-9-6, 36 points) on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. It marked just the second road loss for Seattle this season, as the Rave Green now prepare for Wednesday’s Leagues Cup Final against Club León at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN2, TUDN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). 

Real Salt Lake’s goal came early in the second half when Kreilach got his head on the end of a cross by Aaron Herrera and directed the ball past the outstretched arms of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, bagging what would be the game-winning goal.

Brian Schmetzer’s side now shifts its focus to the 2021 Leagues Cup Final on Wednesday, September 22 against Liga MX side Club León. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with national TV coverage on ESPN2 and TUDN, in addition to local radio broadcasts on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM. 

MATCH NOTES

• With the result, Sounders FC remains in second place in the Western Conference standings, one point behind Sporting Kansas City with one game in hand.

• Sounders FC is 12-13-5 all-time vs. Real Salt Lake in regular-season action with a 34-35 goal differential. Tonight marked the second meeting between the two sides this season, following a 2-1 Seattle home win on June 23. 

• Seattle is 7-2-2 on the road this season, recording fewer losses away from home than any team in MLS.

• There were five changes to the starting XI from Tuesday’s Leagues Cup match vs. Santos Laguna. Of note, midfielder Nico Lodeiro did not travel and is out in the short-term after re-aggravating his previous right knee injury.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Real Salt Lake 1
Saturday, September 18, 2021 

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistants: Ian Anderson, Corey Parker
Fourth Official: Tim Ford
VAR: Michael Radchuk
Attendance: 19,850
Weather: 71 degrees and clear 

SCORING SUMMARY

RSL – Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera, Albert Rusnak) 48’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

RSL – Everton Luiz (caution) 33’
RSL – Damir Kreilach (caution) 41’
SEA – Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 45’
RSL – Aaron Herrera (caution) 53’
RSL – Anderson Julio (caution) 85’ 

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou, Brad Smith (Jimmy Medranda 64’), Alex Roldan (Kelyn Rowe 46’), Abdoulaye Cissoko (Yeimar 64’), Alex Roldan; Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva (Will Bruin 80’), Cristian Roldan (Fredy Montero 64’), Nicolas Benezet; Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, João Paulo, Shane O’Neill, Léo Chú

Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 6
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 4 

Real Salt Lake – David Ochoa; Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Aaron Herrera (Maikel Chang 82’), Toni Datkovic; Pablo Ruiz, Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram (Noah Powder 61’), Albert Rusnak, Everton Luiz; Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 71’)

Substitutes not used: Danny Toia, Jonathan Menendez, Nick Besler, Milan Iloski, Justin Portillo, Andrew Putna

Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 21
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 2