The Seattle Sounders defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday night at Lumen Field behind an early goal from Paul Rothrock.
The Sounders opened the scoring inside four minutes when Jordan Morris escaped in behind the Salt Lake defense on the right side. He clipped a ball to the center of the box for Pedro de la Vega, who redirected the cross to the far post where Rothrock cleaned up the loose ball.
Seattle had a golden opportunity to double its lead in the 14th minute when Morris stepped up for a penalty after he drew the foul in the box on Brayan Vera. There was initially no foul called, but the Sounders were awarded the penalty upon Video Review. Morris tried to go to Rafael Cabral’s left, but the Brazilian goalkeeper read it and parried it away.
de la Vega had another great look two minutes later when he took a one-timed attempt from 20 yards out on the right side, but his strike just sailed wide of the far post.
Jackson Ragen had a chance on a corner kick in the 25th minute when he took an attempted clearance off his chest and fired a volley over the crossbar from about 15 yards out.
After a few half-chances to open the second half, RSL’s best look came in the 63rd minute when William Agada rose strongly for a header, but his attempt just skipped past the near post.
Rothrock nearly recorded a brace in the 70th minute when Jesús Ferreira played a wonderful ball in behind for Rothrock to run onto, but his quick half-volley snuck wide of the near post.
Jesús Barea got a shot off in the 74th minute that was on target, but Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a fairly comfortable save.
Rothrock thought he found the back of the net again in the 79th minute when he tapped in a square ball from Morris, but the goal was negated when Morris was whistled offside in the buildup.
Barea had another chance from the top of the box in the 85th minute, but it was hit right at Frei.
Real Salt Lake had a goal taken away themselves in the 89th minute after it appeared they had stolen a point. Victor Olatunji rose for a header off a free kick and picked out Agada in the center of the box. Agada redirected his header past Frei, but the goal was waved off after Olatunji was determined to be offside after Video Review.
The Sounders finish the evening fifth in the Western Conference with 52 points from 33 matches (14-9-10). Seattle will finish the regular season next Saturday on Decision Day in a cross-country affair at New York City FC (3 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Home fortress
The Sounders finish their home campaign with just one loss in the regular season (10-1-6), which ties a franchise record for fewest defeats. Seattle was defeated just once at Lumen Field two other times, first in 2017 and then in a COVID-shortened 2020.
Depth tested
The Sounders were without 11 players on Saturday due to injury, international duty and suspension. Tacoma Defiance’s Antino Lopez, Sebastian Gomez and Peter Kingston were all available on the matchday roster due to an MLS Extreme Hardship rule. Kingston and Lopez came on in the 80th minute and first minute of stoppage time, respectively, to make their MLS debuts.
Rothrock steps up again
Rothrock’s fantastic 2025 continued with his early game-winning goal. The Capitol Hill native now has four goals and seven assists in over 2,000 MLS minutes.
