Score: Sounders FC 3 vs. Real Salt Lake 2
Site: CenturyLink Field
Records: Sounders FC (17-7-3, 54 points). Real Salt Lake (12-6-10, 46 points).
Man of the Match: Obafemi Martins was an offensive wizard in the first half, taking five shots as Seattle’s best weapon in the attack. His fifth put Seattle ahead 2-1 just before halftime, continuing his hot streak that has seen him score five goals and add three assists in the last five matches. It was also Martins’ run in the 68th minute that drew a red-card foul on Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers, keeping RSL at an arm’s length for the remainder of the match and setting the table for Andy Rose’s stoppage-time winner.
Telling Stat: 20. Sounders FC has now earned 20 points this season with goals that came in the 80th minute or later. Rose’s third goal of the season – all coming in the last two matches – came four minutes into stoppage time as Seattle won the season series 2-1-0 against rivals RSL.
What You Missed: Sounders FC right back DeAndre Yedlin was wearing a brand new pair of pure white adidas shoes. In an era when the colors are getting brighter with oranges, yellows and greens, leave it to Yedlin to break the mold with the simplest of motifs.
So What: Sounders FC extended its lead in the Supporters’ Shield chase to four points over the LA Galaxy through 27 matches. Seattle remains unbeaten at 4-0-1 in its last five matches and now has another big one on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.
