RSL Wins Third Straight In Dominating Fashion Over Seattle

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake picked up their third straight win of the season after a dominating 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders.

After missing more than a month due to injury, Real Salt Lake forward Sam Johnson answered the call of being back in the starting 11 with a goal.

Johnson played 26 minutes in their 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City but is making his first appearance in the starting lineup since July 3.

Albert Rusnak and Corey Baird each found the back of the net as well in the win.

3 straight wins pic.twitter.com/o5OQN6jVhz

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 15, 2019

Sam Johnson Strikes First

Johnson scored RSL’s first goal in the 25th minute when right back Aaron Herrera chipped the ball ahead to Johnson, who slashed past a Seattle defender and fired the shot with his left foot and found the back of the net.

It’s the ninth goal of the season for Johnson, who now leads the team in goals, passing Albert Rusnak, who has eight on the season.

"Everybody Wang Chung Tonight."

Classic @BrianDunseth pic.twitter.com/vTK6Drk8LB

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 15, 2019

Rusnak Adds Second Goal

Johnson led the team in goals for 46 minutes when Rusnak found the goal in the 71st minute. The ball movement was a big part that led to the score as Corey Baird started with the ball on the left side at the top of the box when he passed to Damir Kreilach, who touched the ball to Rusnak.

He fired the ball with his right foot that traveled to the far post past the Sounders goalkeeper.

It’s the ninth goal of the season for Rusnak, who ties Johnson for the most for Real Salt Lake.

Must be the hair pic.twitter.com/3XHaOfQQhb

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 15, 2019

Corey Baird Puts Game Away

In the 87th minute, forward Corey Baird put the game out of reach with a goal. Damir Kreilach set Baird up, who beat the backline in a foot race and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored the goal with his right foot.

Hook, line & sinker 🎣 pic.twitter.com/COUZETaehB

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 15, 2019

Baird scored two goals against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday and in the last two games has scored three of his four goals.

It took some time for the reigning MLS Rookie of the Year to find a rhythm but is now playing very well.

This was their first match since head coach Mike Petke was fired. While he was serving a three game suspension before his dismissal, interim coach Freddy Juarez has led the Claret and Cobalt to two wins and one draw. With the win against the Sounders, Juarez is 3-0-1 since the July 24 incident against Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup.

Up Next

Real Salt Lake now has 40 points on the season and are in third place in the Western Conference standings.

They will have a short turnaround when they host MLS-leading LAFC on Saturday at 8 p.m. They are dominating the league with 55 points and plus-40 goal differential.

The match will be streamed on KSLSports.com or the KSL TV app.