Seattle Sounders 2-0 Real Salt Lake: Musovski and Rusnak end long winless streak

Seattle Sounders ended their long wait for a win in MLS as they beat Real Salt Lake 2-0 at Lumen Field.

The Sounders had not won a league game since May, but Paul Arriola got two assists to set up Danny Musovski and Albert Rusnak to secure all three points.

Arriola flashed an early shot just wide of the near post and into the side netting after the Sounders cut through RSL's defense.

Cristian Roldan also failed to hit the target, while RSL's only effort of the first half saw Sergi Solans bend a long-range shot well wide of the far post on the stroke of half-time.

But Seattle made a strong start after the break, taking just over two minutes to break the deadlock. Arriola laid it off to Musovski, whose low fizzer trickled past Rafael Cabral into the back of the net.

Solans forced a fine stop out of Andrew Thomas moments later from a tight angle, but Seattle continued to push, with Jordan Morris' effort – which could have been a cross – from the right of the box pushed away by Cabral.

A loose touch from Philip Quinton almost gifted Arriola a goal; the striker rushed onto the ball in the box, but Cabral rushed back to get his foot behind it.

Rusnak made sure of the points with 17 minutes remaining, though, as he was allowed to run through RSL's half before slotting it past Cabral.

Seattle taste victory again

After a strong start to the season, Seattle have slowly been sliding down the Western Conference table after failing to taste victory since a 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on May 13.

But on Wednesday, they ended a winless run of 13 straight MLS matches (D5 L8). They had lost eight straight before drawing each of their last five – including coming from 3-1 down to earn a point against the Colorado Rapids last time out.

The clear-cut chances were few and far between in the match, with the Sounders accumulating 0.91 expected goals (xG) from their 11 attempts, though four were on target. While RSL had 12 shots (0.43 xG), only two tested Thomas.

Arriola was the driving force, having a joint-game-high three shots and the only 'big' chance of the match, while he also got an assist from both of the chances he created.

While Seattle moved up to 10th in the West, level on points with the Portland Timbers, RSL sit 13th after extending their own winless run to 13 games, having lost each of the last four.