Real Salt Lake defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0 on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.
The Sounders and RSL played to a scoreless half, but the best opportunity came from Salt Lake defender Aaron Herrera, who unleashed a volley from 20 yards out that pinged off the crossbar in the 15th minute.
RSL found the match-winner in the 48th minute when Damir Kreilach scored his 10th goal of the season. He headed home a pass from Herrera at the far post.
Real Salt Lake had another gilt-edged opportunity in the 57th minute, but Stefan Frei made an incredible kick-save to keep out a shot from a sliding Albert Rusnák on the doorstep.
Seattle had a few half-chances but was unable to really test goalkeeper David Ochoa. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made some rotations as the club is in the middle of a six-match-in-19-days stretch.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Rare road blip
The Sounders entered the weekend with the best road record in MLS, posting a fantastic 7-1-2 mark. On Saturday, Seattle dropped just its second match all season away from home and the first in two months since a 1-0 defeat at Minnesota United in July.
Young midfield duo
Opting to give João Paulo and Kelyn Rowe a rest to start this match, Schmetzer employed two teenagers in Josh Atencio (19) and Danny Leyva (18) in the center of the park.
Leagues Cup Final looms
The Sounders are right back in action on Wednesday in Las Vegas in the Leagues Cup Final against Liga MX’s León (7 p.m. PT; ESPN2, Univision). Seattle then returns to MLS play with a huge clash atop the Western Conference at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (FS1, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
