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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Loses First Game of 2014, Falling 4-0 at Seattle

May 31, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SEATTLE - Real Salt Lake (6-1-6, 24 points, West #2) lost its first match of 2014 on Saturday, giving up three second half goals to fall 4-0 at Seattle Sounders FC (9-3-2, 29 points, West #1).

Saturday's loss ended Real Salt Lake's 12-game unbeaten start to the season. The Claret-and-Cobalt will depart Seattle on Sunday, heading directly to Columbus ahead of Wednesday's match at Eastern Conference foe Columbus Crew.

Seattle went ahead in the 42nd minute, when MF Gonzalo Pineda buried a penalty kick after a questionable PK decision by referee Ricardo Salazar. The Sounders poured things on in the second, with MF Marco Pappa scoring in the 55th, FW Chad Barrett scoring in the 62nd and FW Obafemi Martins topping things off in the 90th.

Real Salt Lake controlled the early stages, but it was Seattle that had the first chance, nearly going ahead through Barrett in the 10th minute. Pappa played Barrett in on the left side of the box, allowing the veteran striker to fire a low left-footer just wide of the far post.

Salazar whistled RSL DF Aaron Maund for a questionable penalty kick in the 40th. Maund was called for the dubious PK after going shoulder-to-shoulder with Seattle MF Lamar Neagle near the end line in the left side of the box. Pineda buried the ensuing spot kick in the 42nd minute, slotting it just out of the reach of diving RSL GK Jeff Attinella and inside the left post.

Maund had a shot to equalize in the 44th minute. RSL collected a loose ball following a corner kick, with MF Javier Morales clipping a ball across the face of goal from the left side of the area. Seattle GK Stefan Frei tipped the cross and it fell to Maund on the right side. Unfortunately, he couldn't put his chance on frame, hitting it into traffic in front of net before it was cleared.

Pappa made it 2-0 in the 55th, bending home a gorgeous free kick after DF Brad Evans was fouled outside the box. The Guatemalan international curled his 25-yard effort up and over the RSL wall and inside the near post from just right of center.

Seattle made it 3-0 just seven minutes later, punishing RSL with a quick counter following a turnover. Martins started the play, stripping a Claret-and-Cobalt player near midfield and playing Neagle in behind. Neagle dribbled into the box and cut a pass across to Barrett, who chipped over an onrushing Attinella, off of a backtracking Maund, and in.

RSL had its best chance of the game in the 70th minute, when FW Olmes Garcia banged an effort off the post. MF Javier Morales created the chance, chipping a ball to Garcia in the right side of the area. The Colombian striker ran onto the ball at the top-right corner of the six, smashing a volley past Frei and off the woodwork.

Attinella made two big stops in the 72nd and 73rd minute, stopping Martins on a point blank attempt before getting a hand to a Neagle shot to push it off the post.

Martins added a fourth for Seattle in the 90th minute, tapping home a low ball from substitute FW Kenny Cooper to make it 4-0.

Real Salt Lake will return to action on Wednesday, taking on Columbus at 5:30 p.m. MT at Crew Stadium. Wednesday's match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM.

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 31, 2014


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