Narrow Victories: Sounders Secure a Hard-Fought Home Triumph
Imagine this: A tense, rain-soaked evening in Seattle where the Sounders FC battled through adversity to snatch a slender 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake, solidifying their fifth-place spot in the Western Conference. But here's where it gets controversial—did the refs make the right calls, or were there missed opportunities that could have changed everything? Let's break down this gripping match and uncover the details that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
On a soggy Saturday night at Lumen Field, the Seattle Sounders clinched their 14th win of the MLS season with a razor-thin 1-0 edge against Real Salt Lake. Despite fielding a heavily altered lineup due to a slew of injuries, international commitments, and suspensions—enough to rotate nearly an entire starting eleven—the team managed to dominate from the kickoff. The breakthrough came early in the fourth minute courtesy of a clinical finish from Paul Rothrock.
From the outset, Seattle exerted control over their opponents. Just two minutes in, Rothrock and Jordan Morris nearly linked up for a dangerous opportunity near the six-yard box, but Real Salt Lake's defense held firm. Then, in the fourth minute, Morris navigated through the backline, reaching the goal line and delivering a precise cross. Pedro de la Vega appeared poised to strike, but his touch deflected the ball perfectly to Rothrock at the far post. Rothrock applied just enough pressure to guide it past goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, putting the home side ahead.
The momentum built quickly. A few minutes later, Rothrock and Morris collaborated again—this time, Rothrock's delivery found Morris, who was fouled inside the penalty area. Initially overlooked by the referee, a video review (VAR) prompted a reconsideration, awarding Seattle a spot kick. Morris approached the penalty, but his attempt was struck at an ideal height for Cabral, who guessed correctly and deflected it away for a corner. For beginners in soccer, VAR is a technology that reviews on-field decisions to ensure fairness, often sparking debates among fans about its accuracy.
Undaunted, the Sounders continued their aggressive push, generating numerous scoring chances without truly challenging the Real Salt Lake keeper. They narrowly missed on several occasions, showcasing their persistence. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake created a few opportunities but lacked the poise or execution to capitalize, often failing to finish their attacks effectively.
The first half saw Seattle outshoot their visitors 10-4, maintaining the upper hand. And this is the part most people miss—the second half flipped the script, with Real Salt Lake controlling more possession and generating nine shots to Seattle's five. They forced goalkeeper Stefan Frei into four saves, none of which were overly demanding, yet the away side looked poised to level the score deep into added time.
In the 89th minute, a seemingly decisive moment unfolded. Danny Musovski committed a careless foul on Johnny Russell in Seattle's defensive half, leading to a free kick. Victor Olatunji rose highest to head the ball at the back post, evading Alex Roldan, and William Agada directed it into the net. The goal was initially allowed, but a swift VAR check revealed Olatunji was offside—positioned illegally ahead of the play—and the score was overturned. For those new to the game, offside is a rule preventing attackers from gaining an unfair advantage by being ahead of the ball when it's played; it's often contentious, as slight positioning can decide outcomes.
With the game hanging by a thread, Seattle weathered additional pressure, endured some puzzling refereeing choices on fouls and time additions, and even mounted a few counter-threats in stoppage time before the final whistle blew. The Sounders now gear up for their season-ending road clash against New York City FC on Saturday, October 18.
Lineups
The absences forced significant shake-ups, with the Sounders relying on reserves and youth to fill the gaps. Danny Leyva and João Paulo anchored the midfield, stepping in for the unavailable Cristian Roldan and Albert Rusnák. Jon Bell took up left back, Alex Roldan shifted to center back alongside Jackson Ragen, and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi covered right back with Nouhou away on international duty for Cameroon and Kim Kee-hee sidelined by injury.
For a visual of tonight's Delta Starting XI for #SEAvRSL, check it out here: sndrs.com/ua4pi3cw
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Key Moments
2nd Minute - Opportunity Alert! Bell threaded a pass to Rothrock, who almost connected with Morris via a cutback from the end line, but Real Salt Lake cleared it away.
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Come for the goal, stay for the celly 🔥CC: @mariners.com 🔱
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10th Minute - Penalty Awarded! Rothrock swung in a cross to Leyva at the box's edge; Leyva passed to Morris, who was brought down and granted a penalty after review.
14th Minute - Stopped! Morris took the penalty, but Cabral anticipated and parried it wide for a corner.
16th Minute - Near Miss! Kossa-Rienzi controlled well and passed to de la Vega and Morris on runs; de la Vega's shot skimmed just outside.
17th Minute - Another Chance! Kossa-Rienzi continued shining after de la Vega's wing play; he surveyed options and fired wide.
21st Minute - Blocked Shot. Leyva overhit a touch in Seattle's half, allowing Real Salt Lake a quick counter, but the shot sailed into the stands.
25th Minute - Overhead Kick! Leyva's corner was headed down for Ragen, whose strike flew over the bar.
34th Minute - Wide Effort! Real Salt Lake built an attack Seattle couldn't disrupt; the resulting shot missed the target.
Halftime - Substitution. Ariath Piol exited for RSL, with William Agada entering.
47th Minute - Easy Save! Real Salt Lake took a short corner to Katranis, whose powerful shot was comfortably caught by Frei.
52nd Minute - Over the Bar! Ferreira attempted a cross or audacious chip that sailed just above the goal.
60th Minute - Change. João Paulo was subbed off, Stuart Hawkins coming on for Seattle.
63rd Minute - Header Wide! Agada headed a right-side cross but missed narrowly.
64th Minute - Substitution. Victor Olatunji replaced Rwan Cruz for RSL.
69th Minute - Switch. Pablo Ruiz left the pitch, Jesus Barea taking his place for RSL.
70th Minute - Off Target! Ferreira lofted a superb pass over the top to Rothrock, whose shot went wide.
74th Minute - Block! Real Salt Lake countered from a Seattle corner; the final shot was blocked and saved by Frei.
79th Minute - Offside Flag! Rothrock seemed to have doubled the lead after Morris's setup, but Morris was offside in the buildup.
80th Minute - Double Subs. Seattle swapped Jordan Morris and Pedro de la Vega for Peter Kingston and Danny Musovski.
81st Minute - Replacement. Noel Caliskan departed, Johnny Russell entering for RSL.
85th Minute - Scramble! Frei fumbled a save on Real Salt Lake's possession but recovered before Olatunji could pounce.
89th Minute - Goal Disallowed! After Musovski's foul, Olatunji headed in from the free kick, Agada finishing; VAR confirmed Olatunji's offside, nullifying it.
92nd Minute - Final Sub. Antino Lopez came on for Jesus Ferreira in Seattle.
Quick Thoughts
In the Engine Room: Danny Leyva's Unexpected Star Turn
Amid the chaos of lineup changes, Danny Leyva stepped into the spotlight after a limited role this season—just 609 minutes in MLS and his last start way back on August 24 in a 5-2 romp over Sporting Kansas City. Filling the midfield void alongside João Paulo, he was pivotal in maintaining possession. Leyva led both sides with 109 touches, 87 passes attempted (80 completed), endured six fouls, and won 8 of 13 duels. While not flawless, his performance highlighted why he should see more action moving forward.
Next in Line: The Power of Youth Development
With four lineup tweaks—plus Alex Roldan's positional shift to center back (and later midfield)—the changes were substantial, affecting nearly half the outfield. Yet, the Sounders drew from their deep talent pool: four starters emerged via Tacoma Defiance, one through the draft, and another as a homegrown after academy time. Similarly, three subs have Defiance roots, and the unused bench owes much to it. "Next man up" isn't just a slogan here; it's a testament to nurturing young talent, ensuring the team thrives despite setbacks.
The Unheralded Contributor: Alex Roldan's Versatile Brilliance
Often in the shadow of his brother Cristian, Alex Roldan has been making waves this season. With center backs Yeimar and Kim Kee-hee injured, he partnered Jackson Ragen in a fluid backline that sometimes resembled a back-three with Jon Bell, occasionally shifting to a four. After a strong hour, he moved into midfield post-João Paulo's exit. Roldan excelled with 71 of 77 passes complete, 89 touches, a perfect dribble rate, eight final-third passes, and 3 of 5 long balls. He won 7 of 10 duels, made six tackles, and five recoveries—proving he's indispensable.
Notable Quote
Brian Schmetzer praised the team's resilience: “Guys step up and do what they’re supposed to do, not just when it’s easy ... we’ve got young leaders stepping up ... you’ve got guys, Jonathan Bell, Danny Leyva, everyone on the squad has pitched in at some point in time over the course of this year."
Player Spotlight
Pedro de la Vega shone with three chances created, winning 10 of 11 duels, and assisting Rothrock's goal.
But here's where it gets really controversial: Was the VAR offside call in the 89th minute too strict, potentially robbing Real Salt Lake of a deserved equalizer? Or do you believe the penalty miss by Morris early on was a pivotal moment that kept the scoreline tight? And is relying on youth development the key to the Sounders' future, or should they prioritize experienced stars? Share your opinions in the comments—do you agree with the referee's decisions, or is there a counterpoint we're missing? Let's discuss!
