SANDY, UTAH - In its first match of 2015 against Western Conference rival Real Salt Lake (8-10-8, 32 points), Seattle Sounders FC (11-13-2, 35 points) fell 2-0 on the road at Rio Tinto Stadium. With the loss, Seattle remains in possession of the sixth and final MLS Cup Playoffs position in the West following results from elsewhere around MLS throughout the day. Just five points separate the Western Conference clubs currently occupying positions four through seven in the table, with Sounders FC playing seven of its eight remaining league matches against Western opponents.
MEDIA RESOURCES
POST-MATCH SOUNDBYTES: http://sndrs.com/s9sq
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: http://sndrs.com/gzbu
A fixture renowned for fiery play and contentious happenings, Seattle and RSL wasted little time in adding another chapter to their rivalry, with centerback Román Torres being whistled for an apparent handball inside his own area in the match's 11th minute. RSL veteran playmaker Javier Morales stepped-up to take the ensuing spot-kick, converting his attempt to give the home side an early 1-0 lead.
RSL doubled its advantage in the 19th minute of play, when midfielder Luke Mulholland banged a shot from just outside Seattle's 18-yard-box off the woodwork, leaving the rebound for forward Sebastian Jaime. The Argentine headed home the loose ball, doubling RSL's advantage to make the score 2-0 in the early going, a lead that the home side would cement for the remainder of the contest.
Sigi Schmid's side caps a hectic eight-match month of August with two important fixtures next week, beginning with Sounders FC's third match of Group Stage play in the 2015-2016 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League at Honduran side CD Olimpia (7:00 p.m. PT / FOX Soccer Plus, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM). The Rave Green then return to Seattle for a nationally televised Cascadia Cup showdown with archrival Portland Timbers on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (2:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Real Salt Lake 2
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistants: Adam Garner, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
Attendance: 20,559
Weather: Clear and 78 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL - Javier Morales (penalty) 12'
RSL -Sebastián Jaime 19'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Erik Friberg (caution) 25'
SEA - Andy Rose (caution) 39'
SEA - Oniel Fisher (caution) 50'
RSL - Olmes Garcia (caution) 83'
RSL - Tony Beltran (caution) 90'+2'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Román Torres, Oniel Fisher; Andy Rose (Gonzalo Pineda 77'), Brad Evans - captain, Erik Friberg, Aaron Kovar (Lamar Neagle 57'); Nelson Valdez (Thomás 70'), Obafemi Martins
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Dylan Remick, Zach Scott, Cristian Roldan
Total shots: 5 (Valdez/Martins, 2)
Shots on goal: 1 (Torres, 1)
Fouls: 10 (Friberg/Valdez, 2)
Offside: 2 (Neagle/Kovar, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Friberg, 2)
Saves: 4 (Frei, 4)
Real Salt Lake -Nick Rimando; Aaron Maund, Demar Phillips, Jámison Olave, Tony Beltran; Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland, Joao Plata (Olmes Garcia 70'); Luis Silva (Jordan Allen 83'), Sebastián Jaime (Devon Sandoval 87')
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Elias Vásquez, John Stertzer, Juan Manuel Martinez
Total shots: 13 (Morales, 4)
Shots on goal: 6 (Beckerman/Jaime, 2)
Fouls: 15 (Mulholland, 5)
Offside: None
Corner-kicks: 2 (Morales, 2)
Saves: 1 (Rimando, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- Seattle Sounders FC is now 11-13-2 in the MLS regular season. With 35 points, the Rave Green are tied for sixth in the Western Conference with the San Jose Earthquakes (with Seattle holding the tie-breaker for the final MLS Cup Playoffs position). Tonight's 13th loss of the 2015 campaign sets a new franchise record for most losses in a season.
- After tonight's result, Real Salt Lake extended the all-time regular season series record to 7-5-4 against Sounders FC, including a record of 5-1-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
- Forward Nelson Valdez and centerback Romàn Torres made their first away appearances for Sounders FC. Last Sunday, they made their club debuts in a 4-0 home win against Orlando City SC.
POST-MATCH AUDIO
Post-match soundbytes from Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid, midfielder and captain Brad Evans and goalkeeper Stefan Frei are available for download via the following link http://sndrs.com/s9sq.
