Major League Soccer Regular Season - 2

Real Salt Lake 2 - 1 FT Seattle Sounders

America First Field

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
43
FT
Sun, Mar 1
Real Salt Lake
2-1
Seattle Sounders
⚡ Intensity 37
⚖️ Balance 27
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 34
RSL strike first in knockout drama

Real Salt Lake Survive Sounders Siege in First Leg Thriller

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 43/100. A spectacular goalkeeping performance and lethal transition offense gave the hosts a vital, slender advantage ahead of the return fixture.

Early Fireworks

The script seemed written for the visitors early on at America First Field. Seattle Sounders dominated possession with 61% of the ball, methodically building pressure and earning a barrage of set pieces. The corner pressure was immense, ultimately totaling 15 across the game, but Real Salt Lake absorbed the blows with disciplined defending. Completely against the run of play, the hosts found their breakthrough. A. Hezarkhani struck a decisive blow in the 23rd minute, finishing off a rapid counterattack. The high Intensity of this playoff-style encounter was obvious, turning the field into a track meet. The visitors kept knocking on the door, but the home defense held firm through the halftime whistle.

Trading Blows

Coming out of the locker room, the home side shocked the visitors again. Just two minutes into the second half, A. Piol doubled the advantage at the 47-minute mark. Creative maestro Zavier Gozo was instrumental in transition, linking play beautifully to keep the Sounders off guard. Facing a massive deficit, Seattle threw caution to the wind. Their persistence finally paid off in the 62nd minute when A. Rusnak carved open the defense to set up C. Roldan for a crucial lifeline. That goal completely shifted the Balance of the tie, giving the visitors a massive momentum boost as they hunted for a late equalizer, pushing their fullbacks high up the pitch to overwhelm the exhausted defenders.

The Final Stand

The final thirty minutes turned into a one-man show. As Seattle piled on the pressure, registering 14 total shots and 7 on target, Rafael Cabral delivered an absolute masterclass between the pipes. The RSL shot-stopper made six spectacular saves, routinely frustrating the Sounders' attackers. The sheer Stakes of this first leg brought out incredible urgency from both sides, culminating in 30 total shots by the final whistle. The hosts secured a gritty 2-1 victory, delivering a notable Upset Factor given the pre-game probability gap. However, this tie is far from over. The battle lines are now drawn for the decisive second leg in Seattle on April 13th, where the Sounders must overturn this narrow deficit.

Key Questions

What made Rafael Cabral the Man of the Match?

Cabral secured the 2-1 first-leg win by making 6 crucial saves against a relentless Seattle attack, ensuring Real Salt Lake kept their vital advantage.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
39%
61%
Real Salt Lake 39%
Seattle Sounders 61%
Shots
16
14
Real Salt Lake 16
Seattle Sounders 14
Shots on Target
5
7
Real Salt Lake 5
Seattle Sounders 7
Expected Goals (xG)
1.68
1.50
Real Salt Lake 1.68
Seattle Sounders 1.50
Passes
332
511
Real Salt Lake 332
Seattle Sounders 511
Pass Accuracy
80%
85%
Real Salt Lake 80%
Seattle Sounders 85%
Corners
5
10
Real Salt Lake 5
Seattle Sounders 10
Fouls
9
7
Real Salt Lake 9
Seattle Sounders 7
Yellow Cards
3
1
Real Salt Lake 3
Seattle Sounders 1
Red Cards
0
0
Real Salt Lake 0
Seattle Sounders 0

Match Events

6' 🟨 Philip Quinton
Hassani Dotson 🟨 10'
23' A. Hezarkhani
HT
47' A. Piol
O. De Rosario D. Musovski 🔄 59'
J. Ferreira S. Brunell 🔄 59'
Y. Gomez Andrade K. Kossa-Rienzi 🔄 59'
60' 🟨 Zavier Gozo
61' 🔄 L. Engel S. Junqua
61' 🔄 L. Moisa P. Ruiz
C. Roldan (A. Rusnak) 62'
72' 🔄 Z. Booth S. Solans
72' 🔄 A. Hezarkhani M. Guilavogui
H. Dotson P. Arriola 🔄 81'
82' 🔄 A. Piol D. Marczuk
A. Rusnak N. Petkovic 🔄 90'
90'+2 🟨 Dominik Marczuk
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Real Salt Lake

Goalkeepers
Rafael Cabral
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
P. Quinton
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Glad
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Engel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Midfielders
Z. Gozo
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
8
Rating
L. Moisa
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
4
Duels Won
100%
Win %
N. Caliskan
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Sanabria
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Forwards
A. Hezarkhani
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
A. Piol
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Z. Booth
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
BENCH
M. Stajduhar
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
S. Junqua
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Katranis
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Mesalles
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Ruiz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Dillon
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Marczuk
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Solans
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Guilavogui
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Seattle Sounders

Goalkeepers
A. Thomas
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
A. Roldan
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Y. Gomez Andrade
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
4
Shots
4
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
J. Ragen
MAGNET
MAGNET
87
Activity
87
Activity
80
Passes
7
Duels
Nouhou
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
C. Roldan
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
H. Dotson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
J. Ferreira
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
59
Entry
A. Rusnak
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
P. Rothrock
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
O. De Rosario
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
59
Entry
BENCH
S. Frei
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
C. Baker
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Lopez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Brunell
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Petkovic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Kossa-Rienzi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Arriola
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Musovski
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Gomez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
10/12/2025 Seattle Sounders 1 - 0 Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer Lumen Field
03/01/2025 Real Salt Lake 2 - 0 Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer Rio Tinto Stadium
05/30/2024 Seattle Sounders 1 - 1 Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer Lumen Field
05/16/2024 Real Salt Lake 2 - 0 Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer America First Field
07/23/2023 Real Salt Lake 3 - 0 Seattle Sounders Leagues Cup America First Field
04/30/2023 Real Salt Lake 0 - 0 Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer America First Field
03/05/2023 Seattle Sounders 2 - 0 Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer Lumen Field
08/15/2022 Seattle Sounders 1 - 2 Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer Lumen Field
03/05/2022 Real Salt Lake 1 - 0 Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer Rio Tinto Stadium
10/12/2025
Major League Soccer Lumen Field
03/01/2025
Major League Soccer Rio Tinto Stadium
05/30/2024
Major League Soccer Lumen Field
05/16/2024
Major League Soccer America First Field
07/23/2023
Leagues Cup America First Field
04/30/2023
Major League Soccer America First Field
03/05/2023
Major League Soccer Lumen Field
08/15/2022
Major League Soccer Lumen Field
03/05/2022
Major League Soccer Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake Win
Seattle Sounders Win
Draw

League Standings