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SANDY — Real Salt Lake hosted the Seattle Sounders Saturday night and took the full three points off a 2-1 win over the Major League Soccer Western Conference opponent, leaving Seattle to go home with its single point off the season thus far.
RSL forward Robbie Findley put the Salt Lake club’s first goal in the back of the net for the Claret and Cobalt in just the 8th minute of play. Findley’s goal broke the Salt Lake club’s 408-minute scoreless streak against the Sounders, but just six minutes later Findley exited the match due to injury suffered on the goal.
“I believe he strained his groin, I actually believe he strained it on the goal,” said Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis. “On the one hand I’m saying to myself, ‘finally’ … but then he gets hurt. I’ll take the goal, but we’ll get him back quickly.”
Despite only seeing the pitch for 14 minutes, Findley whole-heartedly welcomed the goal after four matches where his work didn’t see the back of the net.
It felt good, always feels good to get the first one. It always feels good as a striker when you get that first one off the back, and hopefully the rest will start flowing.
–RSL forward Robbie Findley
“It felt good, always feels good to get the first one,” said Findley. “It always feels good as a striker when you get that first one off the back, and hopefully the rest will start flowing.”
The Salt Lake club’s second goal of the night came from young RSL defender Luis Gil, his first goal of the season and fourth overall for the Claret and Cobalt.
The match saw the return of playmaker Javier Morales, who returned to the pitch for the first time this season after recovering from surgery on his right meniscus. The fans erupted as he entered the pitch in the 62nd minute for Gil.
“It was three long months for me,” Morales said. “I’m very happy. First for the result, we get three points. Second, for playing again. Third for the fans — they were unbelievable with me. The fans gave me a warm welcome, that was great for me, unbelievable.”
Kreis was also happy to welcome back the Salt Lake club’s playmaker; a player he knows can make a difference on the field.
“We know how valuable Javier is,” said Kreis. “We know how gifted he is with the ball. We know if we want to be an elite club in this country, in this league, we’re going to need a player like Javier Morales to make differences. So it’s good to have him back on track and moving forward.”
The Claret and Cobalt will now hit the road for two consecutive weeks. First traveling to face the Colorado Rapids in the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup on April 6, then facing the Vancouver Whitecaps April 13.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
