SANDY, Utah (Saturday, March 12, 2016) – Real Salt Lake stormed back from an early 1-0 deficit to top Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in the club’s regular season home opener.
DF Jamison Olave scored his first goal of the season in the 86th minute to earn the victory. FW Joao Plata earned assists on both RSL goals as MF Sunday Stephen Obayan scored in his regular season home debut to run RSL’s regular season record to 1-0-1 (4 points).
In the 23rd minute, RSL put Seattle’s goal under pressure. FW Juan Manuel Martinez pressed up the right side and earned a deep throw-in. On the ensuing throw, Martinez flicked the ball to MF Jordan Allen streaking toward the middle. He played the ball to Plata at the top of the box and Plata took a touch before shooting on frame. Seattle goalkeeper Tyler Miller got a hand to it to make the save, pushing it over the crossbar for a corner kick.
However, it was Seattle that would get on the board first. Joevin Jones worked up the left side and crossed for Nelson Valdez at the near post. He flicked a shot on goal and GK Nick Rimando made the initial save, but the rebound spilled to Osvaldo Alonso who volleyed it in for the goal, putting RSL down 1-0 in the 28th minute.
From that point forward, Real Salt Lake took control of the match, outshooting Seattle 9-3 after the Sounders scored and RSL finally equalized in the 43rd minute. After earning a corner kick on a run by Allen up the right side, Plata played the ball into box for Obayan left unmarked at the edge of the six-yard box for a header that he thumped past Miller for his first goal in an RSL uniform to make it 1-1.
In the half, RSL outshot Seattle 8-6, with both teams putting three shots on goal and the match was even at the break at 1-1.
RSL nearly took the lead in the 56th minute when DF Chris Wingert sent a ball skipping through the box from the left side. It bounced through to Martinez for a shot from the right side that missed just wide of the far post for a goal kick and the match remained knotted at 1-1.
Finally in the 86th minute, Olave netted the game-winner.
Plata played the ball into the corner where Martinez lofted a hopeful cross that challenged Miller. The Seattle goalkeeper came off his line to grab it out of the air, but Olave beat him to the ball and headed it into the net for the goal and the 2-1 lead that stood up for the final score in the win.
Real Salt Lake will face the defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers on March 19 at Providence Park in the first of three matches between the two clubs this season.
GAME NOTES – RSLvSEA
- MF Javier Morales missed the match because of a rib injury suffered late in RSL’s 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC last week.
- DF Demar Phillips served a one-game suspension after picking up a red card against Orlando.
- FW Joao Plata now has scored or assisted on all five of RSL’s goals in the 2016 season across all competitions.
- Real Salt Lake’s record in regular season home openers is now 5-0-7 all time. In addition, RSL has now won five straight home contests against Seattle, dating back to 2012.
REAL SALT LAKE 2-1 SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016
RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Seattle Sounders FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
SEA: Osvaldo Alonso 28’
RSL: Sunday Stephen Obayan (Joao Plata) 43’
RSL: Jamison Olave (Juan Manuel Martinez, Joao Plata) 86’
Misconduct Summary:
SEA: Erik Fribert (Caution; Foul) 14’
SEA: Zach Scott (Caution; Foul) 35’
SEA: Joevin Jones (Caution; Foul) 38’
RSL: Kyle Beckerman (Caution; Foul) 73’
SEA: Clint Dempsey (Caution; Foul) 88’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Jamison Olave, Aaron Maund, Chris Wingert; Kyle Beckerman, Sunday Stephen Obayan; Juan Manuel Martinez, Jordan Allen (Olmes Garcia, 81’), Joao Plata; Yura Movsisyan (Devon Sandoval 91+’).
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Justen Glad, Omar Holness, Luke Mulholland, John Stertzer.
Seattle Sounders FC (4-3-3): Tyler Miller; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso, Andreas Ivanschitz, Erik Friberg (Cristian Roldan, 18’); Jordan Morris (Darwin Joes, 76’), Nelson Valdez (Aaron Kovar, 92+’), Clint Dempsey.
Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Tony Alfaro, Dylan Remick, Nathan Sturgis.
Referee: Juan Guzman
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Mike Kampmeinert
Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 19,282
Weather: Partly cloudy and 55
