Real Salt Lake's unbeaten run continues with Leagues Cup-opening win over Seattle
MLS play. U.S. Open Cup. Add Leagues Cup to the list for surging RSL.
Real Salt Lake isn’t slowing down with Major League Soccer’s month-long break for the World Cup-style Leagues Cup tournament against Liga MX.
Jefferson Savarino, Chicho Arango and Rubio Rubin each scored in the second half as a shorthanded Real Salt Lake took all three points with a 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC to open Cup play Saturday at America First Field in Sandy.
Pablo Ruiz added an assist for RSL, which can clinch a spot in the Leagues Cup knockout stages with a result Wednesday against Liga MX side Monterrey.
"I think it was one of our more complete performances this year,” said RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni, whose team is unbeaten in 21 of its last 24 matches across MLS play, U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup since April 8 — and six of its last seven against the Sounders. “I thought one of our greatest attributes was the reaction when the ball turned over. We were able to really settle into the game … and I think the guys up front did a fantastic job of creating some really good opportunities overall. And then dealing with the red card showed a lot of character with the group, in the way they navigated the performance. It was one of our most complete performances against one of the best teams in this league.”
Marcelo Silva tried a bicycle kick (!), and nearly bagged a goal on a free header on one of Ruiz’s corner kicks (!!) before Arango had three shots and was pulled down on the edge of the box (!!!) in the first half.
In short, RSL dominated possession, 63.5 to 36.5 percent, and out-shot the Sounders 13-2 with four shots on goal of a scoreless first half. The hosts played with a high line, with goalkeeper Zac MacMath and center backs Silva and Brayan Vera often playing near or beyond midfield.
But no goal came early, and the most fireworks involved an end-of-half scuffle that resulted in matching yellow cards to Arango and Seattle’s Yeimar Gómez in first-half stoppage time.
But it took the home side less than five minutes to roll to the lead.
“We knew what they were going to do in the first half … They were going to be tough to defend,” said Arango in Spanish. “But they had to get out at some point, and I think there was more space in the second half.
“We knew that if we could continue like we were doing, in any moment, the game would open up.”
Savarino opened the scoring in the 48th minute, putting back Arango’s blocked shot directly in front of goal to open his account.
With the goal, the Venezuelan international became the first RSL player to score in all three competitions — MLS play, U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup — in the 2023 season.
Arango doubled the advantage just over a minute later, taking a ball from Pablo Ruiz and converting on the fast break to give RSL a 2-0 lead.
“I thought Chicho was fantastic,” Mastroeni said. “And again, I think we’ve got to remember that it’s his fourth game with the team.
“With more familiarity with his teammates, I think he’ll continue to be killer in front of goal. Now more than ever, we’re occupying the space in front of the 18, which we haven’t been able to do in the past.”
Comfortable enough? There was still 40 minutes left to play — and RSL had to play it down a man after Silva was sent off with a red card following a studs-up tackle in the 60th minute.
Mastroeni tried to minimize the damage, inserting Justen Glad in at center back in place of Arango. Rubio Rubin also made his first appearance in an RSL kit since June 10, returning from Gold Cup play with Guatemala and inserting alongside Bode Hidalgo and Anderson Julio just after the 70th minute.
After bunkering for a moment, Rubin finished off the scoring with an 88th minute strike — his sixth goal contribution in the last four matches in an RSL kit, to go along with two goals during four matches with Los Chapines — to help Salt Lake to the 3-0 win.
“I want to apologize to the fans from Seattle who came to watch us play,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “That was not even close to our standard. We will try and correct that for our next game against a very good Monterrey team. It doesn’t get easy.
“Also, credit to RSL and Pablo for getting his team ready to go to play tonight.”
RSL turns its attention to Liga MX side Monterrey on Wednesday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT at America First Field and on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The Sounders will host Los Rayados next Sunday at Lumen Field in Seattle.