SANDY, UTAH - Sounders FC's club record 13-match unbeaten run came to a close on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, as Seattle (11-8-11, 44 points) dropped a 2-0 result to Real Salt Lake (12-14-5, 41 points). Prior to Saturday's contest, Seattle had not lost in league play since June 17 at New York City FC, a run that included six wins and seven draws. After two consecutive matches away from Seattle, the Rave Green return to the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field for a rivalry showdown against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, September 27 (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Not only does next week's match have key postseason implications, with Seattle currently sitting in a tie for second place in the Western Conference and Vancouver occupying pole position, but the 2017 Cascadia Cup is also on the line.
Following a scoreless first half played in soggy conditions due to heavy rain on the Wasatch Front, RSL got off the blocks in the 52nd minute through Venezuelan attacker Jefferson Savarino. Albert Rusnak slipped Savarino a well-placed through ball on the right edge of Seattle's area, with the RSL forward burying his shot at Stefan Frei's far post to give his side a 1-0 lead. The strike was Savarino's sixth tally of 2017.
The home side doubled its advantage 10 minutes later, this time through a counterattack that saw Savarino playing the role of creator. The Venezuelan cut down Seattle's right flank, firing a pinpoint cross into the feet of an onrushing Luke Mullholland. The English midfielder converted his attempt, making the scoreline 2-0 Real Salt Lake.
Although Seattle held 55.5 percent of the match's possession, was the more accurate passing team (81 percent to RSL's 79 percent) and fired 11 shots to RSL's 12, the Rave Green were unable to find the back of the net on the night.
Brian Schmetzer's side has little time to rest following tonight's contest in Utah, with his club traveling home on Sunday to prepare for Cascadia rival Vancouver on Wednesday, September 27. Kickoff for that midweek contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT, with television coverage being provided by JOEtv and radio coverage via KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM. Wednesday's match has key implications for the 2017 MLS postseason, in addition to the Cascadia Cup. Seattle then heads back on the road for a cross-country trip to Philadelphia on Sunday, October 1 (10:00 a.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Real Salt Lake 2
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Venue:
Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee:
Sorin Stoica
Assistants:
Jeff Muschik, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
Fourth Official:
Drew Fischer
VAR:
Jon Freemon
Attendance:
19,786
Weather:
Clear
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL -
Jefferson Savarino (Albert Rusnak) 52'
RSL
- Luke Mulholland (Jefferson Savarino, Joao Plata) 66'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA -
Kelvin Leerdam (caution) 57'
SEA
- Lamar Neagle (caution) 90'+6'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres, Gustav Svensson, Nouhou (Joevin Jones 61'); Osvaldo Alonso - captain; Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro (Chad Marshall 86'), Clint Dempsey, Victor Rodriguez; Will Bruin (Lamar Neagle 72')
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Tony Alfaro, Aaron Kovar, Jordy Delem
Total shots:
11 (Dempsey, 3)
Shots on goal:
4 (Dempsey, 2)
Fouls:
11 (Leerdam, 3)
Offside:
4 (Four players, 1)
Corner-kicks:
2 (Lodeiro/Rodriguez, 1)
Saves:
3 (Frei, 3)
Real Salt Lake - Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland, Joao Plata (David Horst 87'), Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino (Sebastian Saucedo 90'+4'); Brooks Lennon (Sunny 78')
Substitutes not used: Matt Van Oekel, Chris Wingert, Jose Hernandez, Yura Movsisyan
Total shots:
13 (Rusnak, 6)
Shots on goal:
5 (Rusnak, 3)
Fouls:
12 (Rusnak, 3)
Offside:
1 (Savarino, 1)
Corner-kicks:
1 (Rusnak, 1)
Saves:
4 (Rimando, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- With 44 points (11-8-11), Sounders FC remains tied for second place in the Western Conference, one point behind Vancouver for the top spot. Portland and Sporting Kansas City also both currently hold 44 points on the season, but each have yet to play this weekend. Seattle has four matches remaining in the 2017 campaign.
- The Rave Green's next match comes against the top team in the West, with Vancouver Whitecaps FC visiting CenturyLink Field on Wednesday, September 27 (7:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Postseason implications, bragging rights and the 2017 Cascadia Cup are all on the line next Wednesday.
- Tonight's result ends Sounders FC's 13-match unbeaten streak (6-0-7), a club-record mark that dated back to June 17. The current mark surpassed the previous club record of nine set from May 28 - July 16, 2011.
- Saturday marked the final of a pair of meetings this season between Seattle and Real Salt Lake, with each team winning on its home ground. The Rave Green are now 9-9-4 all-time against RSL in regular-season play and fall to 1-7-2 when playing in Utah in regular season action.
