Real Salt Lake’s Glad Prevents Early Sounders Goal With Crazy Save

SEATTLE – Defender Justen Glad kept the score tied in Seattle with an impressive save in the 9th minute of the game.

Seattle Sounders forward Héber snuck the shot past goalkeeper Zac MacMath from the right side of the six-yard box.

GOAL LINE CLEARANCE BY GLAD #RSL pic.twitter.com/0xqYbv8Qt4

— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) March 5, 2023

The shot made it all the way to the goalline before Glad slid in to kick it away.

Just before the shot by Héber, Seattle midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro took a shot from outside the box that was blocked by MacMath.

JUSTEN GLAD WITH A GOAL LINE CLEARANCE WOW 😬😬#RSL

— RSL Show (@rslshow) March 5, 2023

In the opening 25 minutes, Seattle took four shots and RSL was only able to get one off.

WHAT CAN’T HE DO?#SEAvRSL | #RSL pic.twitter.com/juONYVqZ2p

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 5, 2023

Real Salt Lake Faces Seattle On The Road

Real Salt Lake’s start to the 2023 MLS Season does not get any easier in week two as another road test awaits the Claret and Cobalt.

Following last week’s come-from-behind victory on the road against Vancouver, Real Salt Lake will again travel north, this time to Lumen Field for a date with the Seattle Sounders.

Much like Real Salt Lake, Seattle began their 2023 campaign with a victory against Colorado. It was an emphatic 4-0 demolition of the Rapids in front of their home crowd.

Seattle enters the 2023 MLS season with an advantage over the remainder of the competition following their debut at the FIFA Club World Cup that was held in Morocco early in February. Seattle became the first MLS side to beat a LIGA MX opponent in the CONCACAF Champions League final last year, granting them a bid at the Club World Cup. Unfortunately, Seattle fell to Egyptian side Al Ahly SC 1-0 in the second round after conceding the game’s only goal in the 88th minute.

Nevertheless, Seattle’s 2023 season began earlier than their competitors in Major League Soccer, which showed a week ago against Colorado.

dropping some knowledge for ya #SEAvRSL | @EnglandLogistic

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 3, 2023

Seattle dominated the game from start to finish, scoring the game’s opening goal in the 25th minute.

Unlike a year ago, Seattle enters 2023 with a healthy roster. The likes of João Paulo, Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, and Fredy Montero are all available for selection.

Raúl Ruidíaz, the Sounders star striker, is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain.

A Depleted Real Salt Lake Midfield

On the flip side, Real Salt Lake is dealing with a list of availability issues.

Pablo Ruiz has been granted his green card and is cleared to return to the USA from Argentina. It is unlikely that he suits up this week.

Jasper Löffelsend will serve his one-game suspension this week after spitting at an opponent in the 14th minute.

On Friday afternoon the MLS Disciplinary Committee announced that Löffelsend’s suspension was downgraded from two games to one while also receiving an undisclosed fine for the incident.

Axel Kei and Zack Farnsworth remain listed as out due to ankle and thigh injuries respectively.

Andrew Brody was forced to be substituted a week ago after copping a blow to the head. Brody was not listed on the latest injury report suggesting that he has been cleared to play this week.

Rubio Rubin will also return to the squad following his one-game suspension after seeing red in last year’s playoff match against Austin FC. Diego Luna is also available for the first time in 2023 after returning from US under-20 international duty.

The depleted Real Salt Lake squad will be tasked with a lot entering Lumen Field this weekend.

The fixture against Seattle also provides RSL with its second consecutive match on turf, issuing more difficulty for Mastroeni’s men.

Broadcast Info

Real Salt Lake and Seattle will kick off at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. Apple TV will broadcast the fixture while The KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM and 1280 AM), hosted by David James and Jay Nolly, will handle the radio broadcast.

Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.

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