Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake: Sounders Bring Down the Fortress in Win

For the first time since the summer of 2009, Real Salt Lake has lost a Major League Soccer match at home.

Rio Tinto Stadium, known as "The Fortress" has been very good to Real Salt Lake, who owned a 29-match unbeaten streak until Lamar Neagle and the Sounders came to town.

Playing in the rain for the second straight week, the result was a 2-1 victory for the road team.

Although it was Neagle's goal in the 84th minute that proved to be the game-winner, the turning point of the match occurred much earlier.

After the two teams played an even first half, the pace of play began to pick up after halftime. In the 58th minute, Real Salt Lake defender Jamison Olave was issued a straight red card for dragging down Seattle forward Mike Fucito on a scoring opportunity.

Forced to shift the match to a defensive strategy, Real Salt Lake gave up the first goal in the 72nd minute when Patrick Iannni got on the end of a ball served in from the corner that bounced off several Sounders before finding the back of the net.

A few minutes later Seattle added an insurance goal that was needed to preserve the win. Lamar Neagle shot a great shot from just outside the 18 that skimmed the bottom of the bar and went in.

His goal was needed because Real Salt Lake substitute Nelson Gonzalez fired one past goalkeeper Kasey Keller to cut the lead in half. He was assisted by youngster Luis Gil who was playing in his first MLS match.

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller held his ground in the closing minutes and denied Real Salt Lake the opportunity to tie the game.

Real Salt Lake next looks to start a new home unbeaten streak next Saturday when they take on the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps. With the red card suspension to Olave, and Will Johnson leaving to play for Canada in the Gold Cup, the team will be even more shorthanded and things could get worse for Real Salt Lake.