Nicolas Lodeiro's lone goal gives Seattle Sounders win over Real Salt Lake

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:24 am

Nicolas Lodeiro scored his second goal of the season, and the Seattle Sounders survived several other missed chances to preserve a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Sunday night.

Cristian Roldan provided the service for Lodeiro's winner as Seattle (4-0-1, 13 points) remained unbeaten to move into second in the Western Conference. They trail Western leaders LAFC by three points with a match in hand.

Real Salt Lake (1-1-4, 4 points) weathered more Seattle chances before halftime before growing into the match but couldn't find an equalizer to avoid their fourth consecutive defeat. Jefferson Savarino came closest, striking the right post the 73rd minute.

The loss snapped RSL's three-match winning streak against Seattle.

Seattle's Victor Rodriguez had already forced Nick Rimando into an impressive save in the third minute before Lodeiro gave the hosts the lead in the 18th.

Nicolas Lodeiro
Nicolas Lodeiro
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

After an initial cross from the left found no one as it passed through the penalty area, Roldan eventually reached it on the right flank and looped in a second cross.

Lodeiro was first to it at the back post, hammering a first-time volley out of the air that snuck between Rimando and the woodwork.

Seattle continued to pressure with several opportunities in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

Rodriguez had a promising opening thwarted by Marcelo Silva's well-timed tackle. A few minutes later, Jordan Morris' raced in behind to reach Lodeiro's early diagonal ball from the left but flashed his first-time effort wide of the left post. And a few minutes after that, outside back Brad Smith's cross turned into a shot of sorts, but floated just over the crossbar.

Salt Lake couldn't make Seattle pay for its wastefulness.

Its best chance came nearly 30 minutes after halftime, when Aaron Herrera's diagonal ball found Savarino racing behind Seattle's back line. Savarino's shot beat Stefan Frei, but struck the post, and bounded across the goalmouth and away from danger.