Winning on the road is difficult in any league, and the Sounders can bear witness after their 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake. The last time the Sounders won a match at Real Salt Lake. The last time the Sounders won a regular-season MLS game at RSL was fifteen years ago. A 2-1 victory on May 28th, 2011. Head coach Brian Schmetzer summed it best when he finished his post-game conference with the quote, “ I think the story of this game is just, we needed to make the plays in the game, both offensively and defensively.” The same can be said of the teams 15 year regular season losing streak
AN EFFECTIVE START WAS OFFSET BY POOR DEFENDING
After an active start in which the high press was effective, the Sounders found themselves down 1-0. The match started with some caginess from both sides, and as a result, two yellow cards were issued in the first 10 minutes. Hassani Dotson for the Sounders and Philip Quinton for the homeside. RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni elected to start in a back three, which allowed the Sounders to press up and hold a numerical advantage in the final third.
An active Paul Rothrock on the left side and some nifty inter middle play between Albert Rusnak, Jesus Ferreria Cristian and Alex Roldan saw the Sounders create several half chances. The Sounders’ best scoring was a Rusnak corner to Ragen, who headed the ball forward to a jumping Yeimar who forced a stellar save from RSL keeper Rafel.
TACTICAL ADJUSTMENT
The momentum of the game shifted in the 22nd minute when Mastroeni pushed wingers Zavier Gozo and Juan Sanabria further up the pitch, creating a numerical advantage for the home side. Making matters worse for the Sounders was a lack of active defending by the unit as a whole. Hassani Dotson and Cristian Roldan strayed up field and the backline allowed RSL to loft balls behind them. The Sounders’ defense’s discombobulation gave RSL the 1-0 lead.
SOUNDERS GIVE UP A BAD GOAL
BAD TO WORSE
The second half started the way the first half ended. Disjointed lines, a lack of cohesion between all three blocks and lethargic defending. While Schmetzer blamed himself for instituting a high pressure to start the second half, it lack of execution by the players that led to another horrendous goal
That lacklustre play prompted Schmetzer to make a statement with personnel changes and to switch to a more attacking style in the 58th minute. Two young and fresh legs in Synder Brunell and Kalani Kossa -Rienze brought energy, pace and put the RSL midblock and backline in retreat more. Danny Musoviski brought some veteran survey to the striker position.
SOUNDERS GET ONE BACK
Schmetzer’s moves paid dividends just four minutes later.
The match became stretched with the Sounders hunting for the equalizer and RSL looking to close out the game . The insertion of Paul Arriola for Dotson added another attacking midfielder. It looked as if the Sounders had levelled the match in the 76th minute when Rothrock crossed a ball into the box, which was volleyed into the back of the net by Musoviski. The lineman’s raised offside flag kept the contest at 2-1. Schmetzer’s last fifth and final sub was the insertion of Nikola Petkovic for Rusnak. The visitors pushed for the equalizer, but as has been the case for the last 15 years, the search was in vain.
The match stretched as the Sounders hunted for the equalizer and RSL looked to close out the game. The insertion of Paul Arriola for Dotson added another attacking midfielder. It looked as if the Sounders had levelled the match in the 76th minute when Rothrock crossed a ball into the box, which was volleyed into the back of the net by Musoviski.
The lineman’s raised offside flag kept the contest at 2-1. Schmetzer’s last fifth and final sub was the insertion of Nikola Petkovic for Rusnak. The visitors pushed for the equalizer, but as has been the case for the last 15 years, the search was in vain.
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