Damir Kreilach scored the gameās 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 Wednesdayās Leagues Cup Final against Club LeĆ³n at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN2, TUDN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).Ā
Real Salt Lakeās 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 Schmetzerās side now shifts its focus to the 2021 Leagues Cup Final on Wednesday, September 22 against Liga MX side Club LeĆ³n. 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.Ā
MATCH NOTES
ā¢ 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.
ā¢ 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.Ā
ā¢ Seattle is 7-2-2 on the road this season, recording fewer losses away from home than any team in MLS.
ā¢ There were five changes to the starting XI from Tuesdayās 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 ā Real Salt Lake 1
Saturday, September 18, 2021Ā
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 clearĀ
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL ā Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera, Albert Rusnak) 48ā
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RSL ā Everton Luiz (caution) 33ā
RSL ā Damir Kreilach (caution) 41ā
SEA ā Abdoulaye Cissoko (caution) 45ā
RSL ā Aaron Herrera (caution) 53ā
RSL ā Anderson Julio (caution) 85āĀ
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC ā Stefan Frei; Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou, Brad Smith (Jimmy Medranda 64ā), Alex Roldan (Kelyn Rowe 46ā), Abdoulaye Cissoko (Yeimar 64ā), Alex Roldan; Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva (Will Bruin 80ā), Cristian Roldan (Fredy Montero 64ā), Nicolas Benezet; RaĆŗl RuidĆaz
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, JoĆ£o Paulo, Shane OāNeill, LĆ©o ChĆŗ
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 6
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 4Ā
Real Salt Lake ā David Ochoa; Justen Glad, Erik Holt, Aaron Herrera (Maikel Chang 82ā), Toni Datkovic; Pablo Ruiz, Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram (Noah Powder 61ā), Albert Rusnak, Everton Luiz; Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 71ā)
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