Seattle Sounders FC 1, Real Salt Lake 0 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

Quality chances were few and far between on Saturday night at CenturyLink Field, though Seattle Sounders FC made theirs count in a 1-0 home win over a visiting Real Salt Lake team.

The breakthrough, as it so often does, came through a moment of brilliance from Nicolas Lodeiro. The Uruguayan midfielder, falling down, volleyed home a looping cross from Cristian Roldan in the 18th minute, leaving RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando with no chance. 

The visitors stuck in the match, though, and looked to have their equalizer in the 73rd minute when Jefferson Savarino burst through Seattle’s back line. However, the Venezuelan’s strike smashed off the woodwork, preserving Stefan Frei’s bid for a third shutout in 2019.

With the result, Seattle ended a three-game losing streak against RSL – a stretch in which they were outscored 5-0. The Sounders are now five games unbeaten in 2019 and would be first in the Western Conference if it weren't for Los Angeles Football Club topping the Supporters' Shield race early on. 

Goals

• 18' – SEA – Nicolas Lodeiro | WATCH

Three Things 

THE BIG PICTURE: For the first time in four matches, Real Salt Lake finished with all 11 players on the field, as red cards previously pegged head coach Mike Petke’s squad back for three straight losses. However, a road trip to CenturyLink Field left RSL with their fourth defeat in as many games, even if there were spells of possession and attacking play. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH: 
Soccer is often a game of inches, a fact that left Seattle thanking its lucky stars and RSL wishing the fractions fell their way. Such was the case in the 73rd minute, when Jefferson Savarino’s shot ricocheted off the post. If it were a hair or two to the left, it would have been a leveled match that concludes with an entirely different tone. 

MAN OF THE MATCH: Cristian Roldan grabbed an assist and was all over the field on Saturday night, pulling the strings and dictating the tempo in midfield. The Sounders didn't have the killer instinct that would have made it a less-stressful evening for head coach Brian Schmetzer, so a dose of professionalism was needed. Roldan provided that and then some. 

Next Up

• SEA: Wednesday, April 10 at Colorado Rapids (9 pm ET | Univision, MLS Live on DAZN in Canada)
• RSL: Saturday, April 13 vs. Orlando City SC (9 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, DAZN in Canada)