The Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake drew 1-1 at Lumen Field on Wednesday night behind a second-half free kick goal by Albert Rusnák and a stoppage-time equalizer from Andrés Gómez.
RSL had a penalty shout in the fifth minute when Yeimar fouled Diego Luna on a play that was initially given as a penalty by referee Sergii Boiko. Upon Video Review, the foul was deemed to be just outside the box and the ensuing free kick went straight into the wall.
The Sounders tested RSL goalkeeper Gavin Beavers in the 35th minute when Obed Vargas hit a rocket from 22 yards out that Beavers dove to full extension to push over the crossbar.
Cristian Roldan forced Beavers into another good save in the 41st minute when his shot from the right side of the box was saved.
Nouhou nearly opened the scoring in the 66th minute when he collected a clearance after a corner kick, took a touch and fired a low shot to the far post that Beavers dove to push wide for another corner.
Rusnák broke the deadlock with a screamer of a free kick in the 68th minute from 30 yards out. He initially looked like he was going to play in a cross, but he disguised his free kick and beat Beavers to the near post on the right side.
RSL’s first real look of the second half came in the 81st minute when Stefan Frei dropped to his left to parry away a Chicho Arango shot from distance.
Chicho had another opportunity in the 86th minute when a flicked header found his run in the box, but his ensuing header from six yards out went over the bar.
Frei made a massive stop in the first minute of stoppage time when he kept out a close-range effort from Fidel Barajas, who was unable to score on the rebound as well, putting his shot over the bar from a couple yards out.
The Sounders thought they doubled their advantage in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Reed Baker-Whiting drove the left flank on a counterattack and set up Danny Musovski, who tapped in a sitter. The play went to Video Review and was ruled out because of a foul in the buildup.
RSL equalized in the ninth minute of stoppage time when Gómez had his initial shot blocked, but his follow-up found the back of the net.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Rusnák 50/50 club
Rusnák opened his 2024 account with a beautiful free kick against his former team. The Slovakian has now reached rather rarified air in MLS with 50 career goals and assists in MLS.
Tough stretch at home continues
For the second straight home match, Seattle conceded in the dying moments to draw rather than take all three points.
Well-earned rest
After finishing their eighth match in 25 days during the month of May, the Sounders will get a reprieve with a weekend off after their previously slated contest with Columbus Crew SC was rescheduled while the Crew compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final. Seattle will be back in action on Saturday, June 8, at Sporting Kansas City (5:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
