SANDY, Utah (Saturday, April 29, 2023) – Real Salt Lake earned its first clean sheet of the year with a 0-0 draw against the Western Conference leading Seattle Sounders FC. Snapping a 13-game streak dating back to last September, a new-look RSL rearguard held the top side in West scoreless Saturday at America First Field.
Throughout much of the first half, the two sides traded punches, with each team seeing its fair chances of goal-scoring opportunities. Seattle forward Héber looked to put the visiting side on the board in the 21st minute, but RSL goalkeeper **Zac MacMath** was able to easily make the save. The Claret-and-Cobalt’s best chance at goal came in the 30th minute, when crafty Colombian winger **Andrés Gómez** launched a deep shot towards goal, forcing goalkeeper Stefan Frei to make a quick reaction save to push the ball up and over the crossbar. In the 45th minute, forward **Rubio Rubin** nearly notched his first of the year, but Stefan Frei was able to push the ball mere inches wide of the left post, maintaining the 0-0 scoreline heading into the halftime break.
The start of the second half saw the two sides continue to battle for dominance as each looked to break the 0-0 deadlock. In the 58th minute, midfielder **Pablo Ruiz** came close to scoring the go-ahead goal, but his shot sailed just outside the post. As the second half continued, the game began to get increasingly chippy, resulting in a slew of yellow cards and fouls, which limited either team’s ability to establish consistent possession.
The last few minutes saw both sides desperately pushing for the game-winning goal, but staunch defenses from both teams continued to limit chances. In the third minute of stoppage time, Ruiz received his second yellow card and was sent off as a result, but despite being down a man RSL was able to maintain the clean sheet and earn a point in the 0-0 draw.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake heads to the Lone Star state for a match against Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. MT. Before returning home to America First Field on May 13, the team is scheduled for a midweek match-up at Portland Timbers for the Round of 32 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake was without Axel Kei (ankle), Zack Farnsworth (thigh), Delentz Pierre (leg), Erik Holt (shoulder), Andrew Brody (ankle), Anderson Julio (hamstring), Tomas Gomez (knee), Jasper Löffelsend (ankle) and Bode Hidalgo (hamstring).
- Forward Danny Musovski made his first start since joining the Club via trade from LAFC in August of 2022.
- Three days after making his RSL debut in the U.S. Open Cup, Generation Adidas winger Bertin Jacquesson made his Major League Soccer debut as a 56th minute substitute for Danny Musovski.
- Jacquesson became the sixth player to make his RSL debut this season, joining Andrés Gómez, Brayan Vera, Emeka Eleni, Ilijah Paul and Gavin Beavers; the French-born Jacquesson is the 196th player to appear in RSL’s 19-year Major League Soccer history
- The 20,714 fans in attendance marked the all-time 12th-highest attended game in Club history.
- Four RSL players - Gavin Beavers, Moses Nyeman, Diego Luna, and Ilijah Paul - will appear Sunday for the Real Monarchs 4:00p MT kickoff against Portland Timbers 2
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Brayan Vera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Bryan Oviedo; Scott Caldwell (Braian Ojeda 56’), Pablo Ruiz, Andrés Gómez (Emeka Eneli 90’+4’), Jefferson Savarino; Rubio Rubin (Damir Kreilach 81’), Danny Musovski (Bertin Jacquesson 56’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Moses Nyeman, Ilijah Paul, Maikel Chang, Diego Luna
Seattle Sounders (4-3-3): Stefan Frei; Kelyn Rowe (Reed Baker-Whiting 90’+1’), Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gomez, Alex Roldan; Joao Paulo (Xavier Arreaga 90’+1’), Nicolas Lodeiro, Albert Rusnak; Leo Chu (Dylan Teves 71’), Heber (Fredy Montero 81’), Jordan Morris
Subs not used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Dobbelaere, Obed Vargas, Sota Kitahara, Josh Atencio
Stats Summary: RSL/SEA
Shots: 15/12
Shots on goal: 3/1
Saves: 1/3
Corner Kicks: 7/2
Fouls: 15/7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:SEA: Joao Paulo (caution) 8’
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (caution) 9’
RSL: Bryan Oviedo (caution) 36’
RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 53’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (cautiona) 62’
RSL: Braian Ojeda (caution) 69’
SEA: Alex Roldan (caution) 72’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (second caution, ejection) 90’+3’|
SEA: Albert Rusnák (caution) 90’+4’
