Real Salt Lake defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at Lumen Field on Sunday night behind goals from Sergio Córdova and Andrew Brody. Albert Rusnák scored the lone gone for the Sounders.
Raúl Ruidíaz thought he had given the Sounders the lead in the 12th minute when his shot ricocheted off the crossbar, off the head of goalkeeper Zac MacMath and in the back of the net. The referee went to Video Review and disallowed the goal due to a tight offside decision on Nicolás Lodeiro in the buildup.
RSL found the opener in the 32nd minute when Córdova was played in on a breakaway counterattack. Stefan Frei saved the initial attempt, but Córdova converted on the rebound.
Cristian Roldan almost found the equalizer for Seattle in the 55th minute when he pulled a one-timed shot off a Jordan Morris cutback pass wide of the net from 10 yards out.
Rusnák leveled the match against his former club in the 62nd minute when he fired a seeing-eye shot through traffic from outside the box that beat MacMath.
RSL restored their advantage just two minutes later, though, when Brody scored on a volley at the far post.
Fredy Montero had a chance to tie it again in the 87th minute when his open header at the far post went over the crossbar.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Ruidíaz makes full return
Ruidíaz returned to the starting lineup for the first time since July 9 and looked lively from the get-go. The Sounders will need him to stay healthy and on the score sheet as they look to try and lock up a playoff spot for the 14th consecutive season.
Roldan on the wing
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer moved Roldan back to the right wing after a few matches in central midfield. Danny Leyva filled in admirably next to Rusnák while Roldan had more attacking freedom.
Single digits
There are now fewer than 10 matches remaining in the Sounders’ MLS regular season. Seattle, which sits just outside the playoff picture, will travel to southern California on Friday for a huge clash against the sixth-placed LA Galaxy (7:08 p.m. PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Sounders’ trip to the Galaxy is the first of three straight road matches.
