FINAL: For the second straight time at home and the seventh time overall, the Seattle Sounders failed to score. This time, it resulted in a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, who got a 61st minute goal from Sebastian Saucedo.

The Sounders are now 2-6-2, their worst start ever. This loss proves especially painful, as RSL was not exactly playing well themselves with three losses in their past four and without a previous road win this season.

SOUNDERS 0, RSL 1: Despite needing until the 50th minute to take their first shot, it was Real Salt Lake who opened the scoring when Sebastian Saucedo scored from about 20 yards out. Saucedo was able to beat Kelvin Leerdam and cut inside where no one stepped up to greet him, allowing an unchallenged 20-yard shot that beat Stefan Frei.

HALFTIME: The Sounders didn’t allow Real Salt Lake a shot in the first half, but weren’t able to put any of their five shots past Nick Rimando. Even worse, they lost Handwalla Bwana to what the team has so far only called a “right-foot injury.”

LINEUPS: Clint Dempsey will get another chance as a lone forward, but the Sounders will unveil another new formation: the 4-1-4-1. That’s the first time the Sounders have used that formation this year and a quick scan of the memory suggests this might be the first time ever in the MLS era.

That said, the personnel looks a lot like it did against the Portland Timbers. The big exception is Handwalla Bwana essentially in place of Alex Roldan, who instead slides into the middle alongside his brother Cristian.

For the past several years this contest would be the type to feature on national TV. Real Salt Lake twice went to MLS Cup, winning one. Seattle Sounderes twice went to MLS Cup, winning one. Garth Lagerwey built all four of those sides. In many years the attacking soccer that both profess to play makes for entertaining soccer.

This is not many years. Today’s match on JOEtv (10/22/110) at 2:00 p.m. is not exciting. Both teams are struggling. RSL has on defense and Seattle has no attack. The permeable force meets weakness. Each team is attempting to wait out injury, tread water and resurrect their playoff hopes after the World Cup.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle: Osvaldo Alonso and Jordan Morris remain out. Will Bruin and Victor Rodriguez are both listed as questionable. Nicolas Lodeiro, Gustav Svensson and Roman Torres are already away for World Cup preparation.

Opponent: Joao Plata is listed as questionable. Jordan Allen, Shawn Barry, Tony Beltran, Alex Horwath, Luke Mulholland, and Demar Phillips are out. None of their players have left for World Cup prep yet.

Alonso and Kyle Beckerman are two cards away from an accumulation suspension.

Baldomero Toledo is the center referee. His video assistant is Silviu Petrescu.

nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto

you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep

this is our Sound

Keys to the Game:

• The enemy’s goal is down, attack it.
• Beware of their stragglers in attack.
• Proper walls against Rusnak free kicks.
• Attack early, attack often.

How I'm watching

Outfit: Puget Sound with Star

Scarf: Golden

Where: Section 214

North America will hear us

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How to Watch

Match date/time: May 26, 2:00 p.m.

Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, Heart of Cascadia

Online Streaming: YouTube TV (Seattle and Spokane markets), ESPN+ (subject to blackouts)

Local TV: JOEtv (Johnson, Keller, Zakuani)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Harvey, Webber)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Patia)

International TV

Asia: beIN Sports (Asia) | Australia: beIN Sports (Australia) | Europe: Eurosport | India: DSports / ATR Media | Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports | Sub-Saharan Africa: FOX Africa | Panama: TVN | Taiwan: Sportscast | United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders versus Real Salt Lake; watch with us