Sounders FC Falls 2-0 on the Road to Real Salt Lake

May 16, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC battle Real Salt Lake
(Seattle Sounders FC)

SANDY, UTAH – Sounders FC (3-6-4, 13 points) fell 2-0 on the road to first-place Real Salt Lake (7-2-4, 25 points) on Wednesday evening at America First Field. Andrés Gómez and Diego Luna scored for the hosts, as Seattle dropped the midweek matchup to the Western Conference leaders. The Rave Green now return home for a Cascadia clash against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 18 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, SiriusXM FC, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC sits in 11th place in the Western Conference with 13 points (3-5-4), three points below the postseason cutoff line.

This marked the first meeting between the two sides this season. Seattle is 16-17-8 all-time against RSL in MLS regular season and postseason action since joining the league in 2009.

Tacoma Defiance midfielder Georgi Minoungou made his MLS debut with his start this evening via short-term loan. Minoungou leads Defiance with five assists this season, tied for second in MLS NEXT Pro. He previously started Sounders FC’s win over Louisville City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 8.

Sota Kitahara started at right back this evening, his second start of the season and first at fullback. Kitahara has also started five matches for Tacoma Defiance in 2024.

Defiance defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi was also available on the bench via short-term loan, but did not appear in the match.

Reed Baker-Whiting made his second substitute appearance of the 2024 season, continuing to make his way back from a hamstring injury suffered in the fall.

Wednesday marked the second of three matches in a span of seven days for Sounders FC. The Rave Green defeated archrival Portland 2-1 on Sunday, May 12 and host fellow rival Vancouver on Saturday, May 18.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Real Salt Lake 2

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Venue: America First Field

Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Assistants: Logan Brown, Diego Blas

Fourth Official: Brad Jensen

VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero

Weather: 65 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

RSL – Andres Gomez (Matt Crooks, Diego Luna) 27′

RSL – Diego Luna 58′

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Cody Baker (caution) 55′

SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 85′

RSL – Andres Gomez (caution) 86′

RSL – Fidel Barajas (caution) 90’+2′

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Sota Kitahara, Jackson Ragen (Yeimar 83′),…