Real Salt Lake Capitalize On Sounders Mistakes In Home-Opening Win

Mar 1, 2025, 4:47 PM | Updated: Mar 3, 2025, 1:18 pm

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake played a complete game on both ends to come out with a 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders in the 2025 home opener.

After Seattle gave RSL a gift in the form of an own goal, Real made sure to capitalize on the mistake. For the entirety of the 90 minutes, the Sounders struggled to find any breathing room in their attacking third.

The 1-0 lead held firm for over 70 minutes. As the 80th approached, Forster Ajago doubled the lead on a breakaway to secure the win.

we SEAled the deal #RSLvSEA | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/OqYdNnl3ke

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 1, 2025

Real Salt Lake Opens Home Slate With Win Over Sounders

RSL took the early advantage at America First Field and they didn’t have to work too hard for it.

In the eighth minute, a miscommunication between Seattle defender Nouhou Tolo and goalkeeper Stefan Frei ended in an own goal and a 1-0 lead for the home club.

Own goal by Seattle Sounders makes it 1-0 for the home team #RSL @kslsports | @realsaltlake pic.twitter.com/OSiwVVNiDf

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 1, 2025

Through the first 20 minutes, there was a serious lack of threatening scoring opportunities from both sides.

That changed as the midpoint of the half came and went.

It started with Seattle. Paul Rothrock gave RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral a good scare as he put a shot on target and forced a save before being called offsides.

Real quickly flipped the script and hit the races. Alexandros Katranis set up Ariath Piol with a beautiful cross but he was unable to capitalize from close range. Piol, making his RSL and MLS debut, was just inches from scoring both his first club goal and the first offensive home goal of the 2025 season.

Despite the missed opportunity, the Australia native was a strong presence through the first 45′.

Early returns and small sample size from Ari Piol, but we like 👌🏽#RSL

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 1, 2025

As the 40th minute passed, Seattle and RSL combined for nine total shots with just two being on target. Understandably, the home crowd started to get a bit antsy.

In the 41st, Piol had another opportunity on a breakaway. Seattle’s Yeimar Gómez appeared to grab his jersey from behind. As Piol hit the deck, the Sounders were awarded possession and took the ball back the other way. The no-call resulted in thousands of boos being reigned down on the pitch from the riot.

After yet another strong defensive showing, Diego Luna was the recipient of a perfectly-placed through ball. Luna set up Dominik Marczuk in the center of the box but his attempt was blocked.

After three minutes of first-half stoppage time, Real Salt Lake took the 1-0 lead into the break.

Heading into the break with the lead #RSLvSEA | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/X4DNw57ArT

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 1, 2025

The first 20 minutes of the second half were relatively uneventful. RSL took three shots, none of which were on target. The Sounders put one shot on frame but it was a a pretty routine save for Cabral.

Other than the early Seattle blunder, the story of the game was strong defense for both clubs.

In the 68th minute, RSL made a group substitution, pulling out Katranis, Piol, and Marczuk for Sam Junqua, Forster Ajago, and Bode Hidalgo.

About 10 minutes after hitting the pitch, Ajago took off on a breakaway set up by Diogo Gonçalves. He pulled Frei up from the goal line before using his left foot to slot the shot into the bottom left corner.

Two goals in two games for Forster Ajago and it’s @realsaltlake who doubles the lead #RSL | @kslsports pic.twitter.com/AIAS9qYAVT

— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 1, 2025

Real was able to hold strong as full-time and, eventually, stoppage time passed to secure the 2-0 victory.

Real Salt Lake will stay at America First Field to host the MLS’s newest expansion franchise, San Diego FC, on Saturday, March 8.

How To Watch Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake opens its MLS home schedule on Saturday, March 1, against Seattle Sounders FC. The match kicks off at 2:30 p.m. MT. Take a look at Real Salt Lake’s full 2025 schedule here.

All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.

English-language radio coverage for the 2024 season and beyond will be carried on various KSL radio signals. KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM) and KSL Newsradio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) are both stations under the Bonneville International umbrella.

You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.

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