June 24, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Real Salt Lake News Release
SEATTLE, Wash. – Real Salt Lake (3-2-3, 12 points) fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday night at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. The match marked just the second loss for RSL through eight matches to begin the 2021 season.
Albert Rusnák notched his first goal of the 2021 season, while Bobby Wood made his RSL and Major League Soccer debut.
Postgame Quotes from RSL at Seattle Sounders FC.
Postgame virtual press conferences from RSL at Seattle Sounders FC can be found here.
The first half of the match saw the hosts create the majority of the chances that forced David Ochoa into a pair of key saves to keep the match level. The biggest moment of the first half fell to Sounders FC when Raul Ruidiaz looked to have an open net after beating Ochoa to a loose ball but was snuffed out from behind by Andrew Brody minutes before the halftime break as the two teams entered halftime scoreless.
The second half opened much like the first ended only this time Seattle found the breakthrough through Cristian Roldan who tucked home a loose ball inside the penalty area in the 58th minute to break the deadlock. From then, RSL clawed its way back into the game and found the equalizer through Rusnák in the 79th minute when he rifled a penalty kick into the back of the net to draw the game level at 1-1. Just nine minutes later, Seattle earned a penalty of their own that was dispatched by Raul Ruidiaz to give the hosts the 2-1 victory.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home to welcome Houston Dynamo FC to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, June 26. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SEA: Cristian Roldan, 58th minute: Finding the ball near the corner of the penalty area, Raul Ruidiaz crossed the ball into the center of the box where the ball fell to Will Bruin whose initial shot was saved by David Ochoa. Following the initial save, Roldan was there to pounce on the loose ball to slot home the game’s opening goal.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Penalty) 79th minute: Following a perfectly weighted ball into the penalty area from Donny Toia, Rubio Rubin was brought down inside the box after pushing the ball away from goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland. Rusnák calmly stepped to the spot and delivered the equalizer past Cleveland and into the left-side netting.
SEA: Raul Ruidiaz (Penalty) 88th minute: After a handball in the box committed by RSL, Raul Ruidiaz coolly chipped Ochoa to regain the lead.
NOTES:
– Midfielder Everton Luiz returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench last Friday in a 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He missed the previous five matches with a knee injury.
– Forward Bobby Wood made his RSL and MLS debut in the match, coming on for Nick Besler in the 67th minute as a second-half substitute.
– Defender Toni Datković and winger Jonathan Menéndez were not available as they await their immigration to the U.S.
– Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and six on the 20-man roster. Additionally, four players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.
– Forward Jeizon Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a quad injury and is ineligible for selection for the next six matches.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders FC
Date: June 23, 2021
Venue: Lumen Field; Seattle, Washington
Weather: Sunny and 72 Degrees
Attendance: 24, 652
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
Sounders FC 0 2 2
SEA: Cristian Roldan, 58′
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Penalty) 79′
SEA: Raul Ruidiaz (Penalty) 88′
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Andrew Brody (Donny Toia 74′); Everton Luiz (Pablo Ruiz 67′), Nick Besler (Bobby Wood 67′); Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram (Anderson Julio 80′); Rubio Rubin
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Erik Holt, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang
Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Stefan Cleveland; Shane O’Neill, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Abdoulaye Cissoko; Joao Paulo, Cristian Roldan, Alex Roldan, Kelyn Rowe (Josh Antencio 85′), Jimmy Medranda (Brad Smith, 66′); Raul Ruidiaz (Danny Leyva 90’+4), Will Bruin (Fredy Montero 85′)
Subs not used: Spencer Richey, Reed Baker-Whiting, Ethan Dobbelaere
Stats Summary: SEA / RSL
Shots: 16 / 4
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 9 / 6
Fouls: 10 / 9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 40′
SEA: Raul Ruidiaz (caution) 77′
RSL: David Ochoa (caution) 88′
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 90’+6
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, Mike Rottersman
4th Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Jorge Ganzalez
AVAR: Joshua Patlak
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