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Real Salt Lake Bows out of U.S. Open Cup in Shootout with Seattle

June 29, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake dominated every aspect of its matchup with Seattle Sounders FC on Tuesday night in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With advantages in possession (69.6%-30.4%), shots (30-16) and shots on goal (9-5), RSL had opportunities to put the contest away early. However, after drawing 1-1 over 120 minutes at Rio Tinto Stadium, RSL was eliminated in a penalty kick shootout 4-1.

FW Joao Plata converted a first-half penalty and GK Jeff Attinella finished the match with three saves, but Seattle goalkeeper Tyler Miller came up with eight saves on the night and stopped two in the shootout to move on in the tournament.

RSL had the first good chance of the match when FW Juan Manuel Martinez sprung FW Yura Movsisyan in behind the Seattle defense in the 18th minute. He got 1v1 with Miller, but the Sounders goalkeeper made the foot-save to keep the match scoreless.

Movsisyan had another opportunity for a header on a ball from Plata in the 20th minute, but his shot from the left side missed just wide of the far post for a goal kick.

In the 23rd minute, MF Luke Mulholland sent a rocket from outside the box bound for the upper 90, but Miller snatched the ball out of the corner for the save.

Salt Lake continued to dominate the match and in the 40th minute, Tony Alfaro brought down Movsisyan on a run in the box and referee Alex Chilowicz pointed to the penalty spot.

Plata converted the PK, hammering his shot to Miller's right and though the keeper guessed correctly, he had not chance and RSL snared the 1-0 lead just before halftime.

The lead wouldn't last though.

In the 51st minute, Seattle played a ball to the edge of the box and on a miscommunication between DF Justen Glad and Attinella, Nelson Valdez ended up with the ball and put it in the opened net to equalize at 1-1.

Although Salt Lake held significant advantages in possession and shots, it couldn't find the match-winner after 90 minutes and the match went to 30 minutes of extra time.

RSL continued its dominating performance through extra time and in the 117th minute, Plata and MF Javier Morales played a 1-2 that ended with Morales on a run up the left side, but his close-range shot missed just wide of the far post, leaving the match to the shootout.

Herculez Gomez and Martinez traded goals in the first round and Jordan Morris converted his in the second round as well. However, Miller saved Plata's effort, diving to his right to make the stop. Zach Scott scored his third-round attempt and MF Kyle Beckerman's shot had Miller guess wrong, but the lanky keeper made the foot-save to leave Seattle with a 3-1 lead. Erik Friberg then converted his attempt and Seattle advanced 4-1.

Real Salt Lake finishes off the stretch of six matches in 18 days, returning to MLS play on Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium against D.C. United.

GAME NOTES - RSLvSEA

RSL MF Kyle Beckerman made his return to the RSL lineup after missing the previous five league matches while away with the U.S. National Team at Copa America Centenario.

Although the two teams never previously met in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup proper, they did square off in an Open Cup qualifier in 2009, with Seattle winning 4-1 at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

This was the second shootout match for RSL in the Open Cup this year, previously topping the USL's Wilmington Hammerheads in a shootout in the Fourth Round.

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