SEATTLE, Washington (Sunday, August 14, 2022) – Real Salt Lake (10-8-7, 37 points) secured a much-needed road win in Seattle, defeating the host Sounders 2-1 to hold onto fifth place in the crowded Western Conference standings. A gritty first-half goal from Forward Sergio Cordova and a quick response goal from defender Andrew Brody secured the win for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
Real Salt Lake struggled to maintain possession early in the first half, playing most of time from their heels. In the 12th minute the home side had a goal reversed by VAR when an attacking player was deemed to be in an offsides position. Real Salt Lake gathered itself after dodging that bullet and began to possess and mount counter attacks to shift the momentum of the match. Jefferson Savarino hit Cordova with a long, pinpoint pass as the forward was streaking up the center of the field. Cordova split the defense and charged towards the net. He corralled the rebound from a sprawling Stefan Frei off his initial touch, then reset himself and buried his shot into the back of the net. Cordova’s sixth goal of the season changed the pace of the first half, a half that saw the Sounders control possession but not muster many serious chances to score.
Postgame Video from RSL vs. SEA: Pablo Mastroeni, Justen Glad, Jefferson Savarino
Sounders controlled much of the possession to start the second half. Former RSL captain Albert Rusnak evened the score at one in the 62nd minute, but Real Salt Lake quickly responded with another solid counterattack. Brody broke to the net along the weak side and redirected a long crossing pass from Jefferson Savarino, burying a sliding goal past Sounders’ keeper Stefan Frei to put the Claret-and-Cobalt in front for good.
Real Salt Lake mounted a solid defensive front as Seattle had 10 men in the attacking third for 30+ minutes of run-of-play, and seven minutes of extra time. The sounders had several missed opportunities to level the score as RSL keeper Zac MacMath punched away several opportunities around the mouth of the net, including a diving stop in the 96th minute of play to seal the win for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home to Rio Tinto Stadium to host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Sergio Cordova 32nd minute: On the counterattack, Jefferson Savarino sent a long clearing pass to Sergio Cordova as he was sprinting up the middle of the field. Cordova split two defenders to corral the pass and push out ahead. Frei came out to challenge Cordova, stopping the initial shot with his shins. Cordova pulled back the rebound, reset himself to dribble clear of the sprawled Seattle keeper and bury his shot bast three Seattle defenders who were scrambling in front to try to protect the net.
SEA: Albert Rusnak (Nicolas Lodeiro, Danny Layva) 62nd minute: Rusnak corralled a heel flick from Lodeiro just atop the 18-yard box and buried a right footed shot just inside the left post to tie the game.
RSL: Andrew Brody (Jefferson Savarino) 64th minute: Jefferson Savarino sent a crossing pass through the box and found an unmarked Andrew Brody breaking towards the net. Brody slid under the pass and redirected it past Stefan Frei to put the Claret-and-Cobalt back in front.
NOTES:
- Bobby Wood (abductor), Tate Schmitt (knee), Danny Musovski (hamstring), and Damir Kreilach (back) were unavailable due to injury.
- Defender Andrew Brody’s goal was his second goal, and second game winning goal of this season.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders
Date: August 14, 2022
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Weather: Overcast and 77
Attendance: 33,093
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Seattle Sounders 0 1 1
RSL: Sergio Cordova 32’
SEA: Albert Rusnak (Nicolas Lodeiro, Danny Leyva) 62’
RSL: Andrew Brody (Jefferson Savarino) 64’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva; Andrew Brody; Maikel Chang (Bode Hidalgo 86’), Pablo Ruiz Jasper Löffelsend (Scott Caldwell 46’), Justin Meram (Erik Holt 59’), Jefferson Savarino (Anderson Julio 86’), Sergio Cordova (Rubio Rubin 70’)
Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Johan Kappelhof, Nick Besler, Diego Luna
Seattle Sounders (4-4-1-1): Stefan Frei, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou, Yeimar Gomez Andrade (Jimmy Medranda77’), Christian Roldan (Kelyn Rowe 77’), Nicolas Lodeiro, Albert Rusnak, Alex Roldan (Leo Chu 87’), Danny Leyva (Will Bruin 65’) Raul Ruidiaz (Fredy Montero 65’), Jordan Morris
Subs not used: Jackson Ragen, Stefan Cleveland, Josh Atencio, Dylan Teves
Stats Summary: RSL / SEA
Shots: 8 / 15
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 0 / 7
Fouls: 7 / 10
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA: Yeimar Gomez Andrade (caution) 58’
RSL: Maikel Chang (caution) 66’
SEA: Cristian Roldan (caution) 70’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 90’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Tim Ford
Assistant Referees: Chris Wattam, Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: Nick Uranga
