| 11 September 2011
After an impressive string of five wins including a thrashing of the Columbus Crew, the Sounders looked poised to widen the gap between themselves and the rest of the West. But due to a strange series of events the Sounders fell 2-1 to Real Salt Lake.
The first 45 proved to be as action packed and surprising as a Hollywood blockbuster as goal keeping hero Kasey Keller allowed a bizarre own goal in the 13th minute as he tried to sweep up a ball from an onrushing Alvaro Saborio.
In the 35th minute the Sounders were given a man advantage when Tony Beltran was shown a second yellow and was sent off. But just a mere four minutes later Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was shown straight red after throwing an alleged elbow at Saborio. Sigi Schmid called into question the legitimacy of the referee’s decision.
Just before the stroke of half time, Mauro Rosales found Fredy Montero on a cross and Montero put it into the roof of the net for his 7th goal of the season, tying the match at one apiece. Yet once again RSL wiggled away as Saborio got a lucky bounce off of a stalwart Tyson Wahl and was set up perfectly for Real Salt Lake’s second goal and game-winner.
The Sounders continued to press, maintaining good possession and nearly equalized again through Tyson Wahl but were denied as Wahl’s shot was saved by the face a RSL keeper, Nick Rimando. At the end of the match the Sounders left the pitch knowing they tried everything they could. Sigi Scmid and Kasey Keller both said it best; “sometimes you just have those days.”
