Morris scores 8th goal, Sounders topple Real Salt Lake 2-1

SEATTLE (AP) — Jordan Morris scored his eighth goal of the season midway through the first half, Yeimar Gómez Andrade added a goal on a header early in the second half, and the Seattle Sounders beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Seattle (9-3-3) padded its lead atop the Western Conference with its third straight win and fifth in the last six matches.

Real Salt Lake (4-6-6) lost its second straight match and dropped into ninth place in the Western Conference after Houston’s win over FC Dallas earlier Wednesday.

Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer coached his 400th match with the franchise at the various levels the Sounders have played in their history. And it nearly got off to a perfect start with Morris appearing to score inside the first minute, but the goal was disallowed after Morris was flagged for being offside.

There was no question about his goal in the 28th minute, as Morris found himself in the right spot to redirect Cristian Roldan’s cross past goalkeeper Andrew Putna.

Andrade added what proved to be the winner in the 61st minute, breaking open on a free kick delivery from Nicolas Lodeiro. It was his second goal of the season.

Real Salt Lake controlled the final 20 minutes after a Seattle own goal in the 68th minute cut the deficit in half. But RSL failed to test Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei and did not record a shot on target in the match.

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