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FULL-TIME: The Seattle Sounders improved to 2-0-0 after easily taking care of Real Salt Lake, 2-0 on Saturday. The Sounders got goals from Jordan Morris and Héber. Raúl Ruidíaz also returned to the field, logging about 10 minutes and nearly scoring a goal. They now turn their attention to FC Cincinnati next Saturday.
SOUNDERS 2, RSL 0: Héber adds his second goal of the season, poking in an Alex Roldan cross after some good buildup.
Right place. Right time. @Heber__Araujo scores his second goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/KTEsyENd0s
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 5, 2023
SOUNDERS 1, RSL 0: Jordan Morris scores his third goal of the season, rising over Andrew Brody to head in a perfect Alex Roldan cross.
Another look at this beauty @Alex_Roldan8 finds @JmoSmooth13! pic.twitter.com/sDsRGa5Zla
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 5, 2023
LINEUPS: Raúl Ruidíaz returned to the bench, but the starting lineup is unchanged from the season opener.
The Seattle Sounders come into Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake flying high off a season-opening win in which they looked very much like a team that is ahead of the curve in terms of preparedness. The Sounders, of course, had already played a competitive match and it seemed to show with their fitness and sharpness.
Real Salt Lake also won their opener, albeit less convincingly. The Vancouver Whitecaps dominated most of the first half, but RSL came out strong in the second half to score two goals just a few minutes apart and emerge victorious.
The Sounders will potentially get a boost from the return of Raúl Ruidíaz and Obed Vargas. While neither are expected to start, both should be available off the bench.
RSL, meanwhile, will get back attacker Rubio Rubin, but will still be missing midfielder Pablo Ruiz, who is dealing with visa issues. They are also expected to be missing midfielder Jasper Löffelsend, who head coach Pablo Mastroeni said will be suspended for the match.
Notes
- Although RSL has effectively won four straight meetings against the Sounders, last August’s 2-1 win was just their second “outright” win at Lumen Field in their past 16 visits. The road teams in this matchup have won just 2 of the last 26 meetings overall.
- The Sounders’ 4-0 win over the Rapids in the season opener was the fifth time they’ve won their opener by at least three goals. That ties the Columbus Crew for the most such wins in league history.
- RSL set a league record by extending their unbeaten streak in season openers to 14 matches. Even more remarkably, 13 of those were on the road.
- Jordan Morris’ season-opening brace marked the third time he’s scored two goals in a season opener. No one else in MLS history has achieved that feat.
Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension
Seattle
QUESTIONABLE: Raúl Ruidíaz (Right hamstring strain)
RSL
OUT: Zack Farnsworth (thigh), Axel Kei (ankle), Pablo Ruiz (visa), Jasper Löffelsend (suspended)
Officials
REF: Victor Rivas; AR1: Jeffrey Greeson; AR2: Mike Rottersman; 4TH: Elijio Arreguin; VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
How to Watch
Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, 7:38 PM PT
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle
Global Streaming English: MLS Season Pass (Mark Rogondino & Heath Pierce)
Global Streaming Spanish: MLS Season Pass (Adrian Garcia Márquez & Francisco Pinto)
English TV: none
Local Radio: 93.3 KJR-FM Seattle, iHeartMedia (Danny Jackson & Steve Zakuani)
Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)
Is this game available to stream for free? No
Will Sounders radio be available as an alternate feed? Yes
Lineups
Our @Delta Starting XI vs. RSL!
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 5, 2023
https://t.co/No5iKRfTtS | #Sounders pic.twitter.com/eSuYxWuVGe
facing the flounders #SEAvRSL | #RSL pic.twitter.com/rfJ8dz22I2
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 5, 2023
Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.
This is Seattle Sounders vs. RSL; watch with us
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