Real Salt Lake defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, on Saturday night.
The match featured more than a two-hour weather delay after lightning was spotted in the area in the 43rd minute. The teams then played out the final two minutes, with forward Bobby Wood nearly giving RSL the lead when his rebounded effort off a Stefan Frei save hit the side netting.
The two teams went into a five-minute halftime break scoreless, but Wood opening the scoring just 55 seconds after the second-half whistle when he cleaned up his own rebound that Frei initially saved from point-blank range.
RSL nearly doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when Maikel Chang’s one-timed shot from 12 yards out was kept out by a great save from Frei.
Seattle came closest to equalizing in the 81st minute when Fredy Montero unleashed a shot from distance that goalkeeper Zac MacMath parried out for a corner.
The Sounders host Liga MX’s Club León on Tuesday (7 p.m. PT | TICKETS) in Leg One of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals before returning to MLS play next Saturday with a massive home clash with the LA Galaxy (12:30 p.m. PT; FOX, FOX Deportes).
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Come watch the Rave Green take on Liga MX powerhouse Club León in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals tonight!
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Heavy Rotation
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer heavily rotated his squad ahead of the León match early next week. Nicolás Lodeiro remained in Seattle for precautionary rest, while Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Yeimar and Nouhou each began on the bench. Léo Chú, AB Cissoko, Reed Baker-Whiting, Fredy Montero and Jackson Ragen all made their first starts of 2022.
Ragen’s First Start
Speaking of Ragen, his start was his first MLS appearance after joining this past offseason. The Sounders acquired the Seattle native’s rights via a trade with the Chicago Fire, and the 6-foot-6 center back looked poised in defense and played with a maturity beyond his years. His effort is hopefully a promising sign of things to come.
Trouble in Salt Lake
The Sounders have lost more matches at Rio Tinto Stadium than any other venue in MLS since joining the league in 2009. Seattle hasn’t won in Utah since the second leg of the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals.
