Real Salt Lake suffered its fourth straight defeat on Wednesday night, falling 2-0 to the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. The loss extends RSL’s winless streak to 13 games — the longest single-season winless streak in club history.
Read more Opinion: How a Mitt Romney op-ed became Exhibit B in Trump’s defense of the White House media ban
RSL alums lead Sounders to victory
Former RSL stars were the difference on Wednesday night, scoring twice for Seattle to end its 13-match MLS winless streak while simultaneously extending the Claret-and-Cobalt’s winless streak to 13. The opener was scored by Danny Musovski, who made 37 appearances for RSL from August 2022 to November 2023 before joining Seattle in February of 2024. MLS veteran Albert Rusnák was the author of the second, another RSL alum who made 146 appearances and scored 42 goals for the Claret-and-Cobalt from 2017 to 2022.
The midweek matchup was highlighted by the MLS and RSL debut of Liam O’Gara, who subbed on in the 88th minute. O’Gara, the former RSL SuperDraft pick and Real Monarchs star, became all-time RSL player No. 244 with his appearance on Wednesday. The Claret-and-Cobalt also saw two players start their first games since returning from injury, Stijn Spieringsmaking his first appearance since a high ankle sprain suffered Aug. 25, and Sam Junqua entering the first XI for the first time since his concussion on Aug. 29.
Quotable
“From a tactical perspective, we’re doing everything we can, but at the end of the day, someone’s got to step up and make a play,” said RSL Head coach Pablo Mastroeni. “That’s the biggest difference.”
Game summary
Both sides were locked in a defensive battle in the first half, maintaining possession but unable to connect on the decisive passes in the final third. The highly-physical first 45 minutes produced zero shots on goal from either team, and it quickly became evident that the first goal would be crucial to the outcome of the match. Sergi Solans registered the visitors’ lone shot of the half in the 45th minute, dribbling into the left side of the box before cutting onto his right foot and curling a shot just wide of the far post.
Read more Polls: Do Utah voters differ from the rest of the nation in their support of the Iran War?
Just after halftime, Solans had another chance to put the Claret-and-Cobalt in front. Running onto a clearance, the Spanish rookie stole the ball from Seattle’s last defender and sprinted Toward goal alone with keeper Andrew Thomas. At the top of the box, Solans was betrayed by a big touch as Thomas poked the ball away with an outstretched right hand. Less than two minutes later, in the 48th minute, the Sounders made the visitors pay as former RSL player Danny Musovski opened the scoring with a right-footed strike from outside the box.
In the 73rd minute, Seattle made it 2-0 after another RSL alum, Albert Rusnák, received the ball near the center circle and dribbled nearly 30 yards before slotting it into the bottom left corner. The visitors were unable to answer and, with the loss, suffered their third straight shutout for the first time since April 2023.
Up next
In just three days, Real Salt Lake returns to America First Field to take on the New England Revolution on Saturday, Sept. 26. Kickoff is programmed for 7:30 p.m. MDT, with tickets available for purchase at RSL.com.
Read more Opinion: A good agreement with Greenland, but did we need the dramatics?