Chad Barrett scored in the second half as Seattle Sounders FC (13-7-2, 41 points) fell to Real Salt Lake (11-4-9, 42 points), 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Following a scoreless opening 45 minutes, Salt Lake recorded a pair of second-half goals four minutes apart to take a 2-nil advantage.
Joao Plata opened the scoring in the 53rd minute after Olmes Garcia was fouled on the right wing. Luke Mulholland sent a free kick into the box that Plata headed into the net from six yards out.
Salt Lake doubled its lead in the 57th minute on an own goal from Osvaldo Alonso after the midfielder tapped a through ball past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Sounders FC pulled one goal back in the 72nd minute on Barrett’s fifth goal of the season. Kenny Cooper got behind the defense and sent a cross into the box but Clint Dempsey’s shot was saved by Nick Rimando. After Andy Rose’s rebound attempt hit the post, Barrett chased down the bouncing ball and knocked it in for the 2-1 scoreline.
Real Salt Lake 2-1 Seattle Sounders
Seattle continued to press for the late equalizer in the final 15 minutes of the match. Following a turnover in the 77th minute, Dempsey shielded off his defender and fired a bending long range shot that missed just wide of the post.
In second half stoppage time, Barrett nearly scored his second of the match when he settled a long ball from Gonzalo Pineda but his shot from a tight angle missed wide of the far post.
Frei made four saves in the match, including an early stop on Plata in the second minute and a difficult stop on a deflected cross in the 45th minute.
Sounders FC held the advantage in total shots, 12-9, and corner kicks, 3-2. Salt Lake won the possession battle at 58-42.
Sounders FC returns home to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, August 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Joao Plata (Luke Mulholland) 53′
RSL – Osvaldo Alonso (own goal) 57′
SEA – Chad Barrett 72′
