Match Previews

RSL Closes Three-Game Week Against Seattle

HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, September 17, 2021) – Real Salt Lake is set to return to Rio Tinto Stadium where it will host Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

The match will serve as the Club’s annual Kick Childhood Cancer Night together with MLS Works, as well as an honoring of Club-legend Nick Rimando for his induction into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame. 

The match will be broadcast live on KMYU and can be accessed locally via live stream on the KSL TV app. ESPN700 will carry the English radio broadcast and Spanish-speaking fans can tune in on KBMG Latino 106.3, La Gran D 102.3 and KTUB 1600.  

Real Salt Lake at Seattle Sounders FC

Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah

Saturday, September 18 at 7:30 p.m. MT

Game Notes for Saturday’s RSL vs. SEA game Available Online

Those seeking the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Saturday's contest between Real Salt Lake and Sounders FC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Taran Meyer in the RSL Communications Department via email at tmeyer@rsl.com.

Records: Real Salt Lake (9-9-6, 33 points, 6th in West); Seattle Sounders (13-4-6, 45 points, 2nd in West)

Head-to-Head: Real Salt Lake has a 11-12-5 record against the Sounders with an impressive 9-1-3 record when playing at home. The team’s only loss to Seattle at home dates back to May 28, 2011 when they fell 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium. 

Stories to Watch:

The Goals Keep Coming

With its four-goal performance against San Jose, Real Salt Lake has now scored the second-most goals in the Western Conference and the fourth-most in all of Major League Soccer, netting 40 goals in 24 matches while averaging a goal every 54 minutes. That average is the second-best in Club history, with the only lower average coming in 2013 when they scored a goal every 53.6 minutes. 

Are They Ready

Real Salt Lake is currently touting a five-game unbeaten streak and a record of 6-2-4 when playing at home. Additionally, RSL has not lost to Seattle at home since May 28, 2011, which marked the lone loss to the Sounders at home in the history of the Club. Captain Albert Rusnåk leads the way against Seattle, with two goals and two assists against the Sounders during his RSL career, including the lone goal in the 2-1 loss at Lumen Field on June 23, 2021. Prior to that match Rusnak had only tallied one assist and has since gone on to add six goals and seven assists, combined for the best offensive production on the team. 

Connections:Seattle Sounders FC midfielder and Washington native Kelyn Rowe appeared in four matches for Real Salt Lake during the 2019 season. Additionally, Seattle General Manager Garth Lagerwey and Technical Director Craig Waibel both previously served as General Manager for Real Salt Lake, while RSL Technical Director Kurt Schmid was previously an Assistant Coach and Scout for Seattle.

Seattle Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez left his position as head coach for Real Salt Lake on August 27, 2021 to take a position under Brian Schmetzer.