Realio’s Ratings: Rough RSL reunion for Rusnák and co.

Going to RSL and getting your hopes up, no matter the state of their team, is a fool’s errand, and boy was I foolish. Seattle has had no success on the road in Utah, and last weekend was more of the same. It may have looked different, with the Sounders having a stronger lineup and form on paper, winning the all-important xG battle, or even presenting as the better team for long stretches. But in the end, it’s on the road in a place where the Sounders don’t win, and they didn’t. The final 2-0 loss came via a pathetic own goal (again) and a late defensive lapse. In between was some excellent play, some awful play, and a whole lot of the usual frustration associated with this matchup. It was a weird match with weird plays and yet, in the end, a straightforward loss. 

Quick hit: It was reasonable to expect a point. Also reasonable to be extremely annoyed at the events that resulted in no points. 

Goalkeeper

Stefan Frei – 6 | Community – 5.6

Frei didn’t have much to say once again, being a passenger in most of the match. He did record his first four saves of the year, and conceded two. He wasn’t really to blame for either goal against, as one was a boneheaded own goal that was stupid even if Stef hadn’t called for the ball (which he should have), and the other a breakaway of the sort that Frei doesn’t ever save. 

What I liked: A 19th minute save was his first of the season, a gentle roller right at him to break the odd stat of nearly 200 minutes without a save. An excellent save off a corner kick in the 49th minute would likely have been cleared off the line by Cristian Roldan, but Frei did well to parry it away. 

What I didn’t like: Frei seemed disconnected from the team, as the back line was out of sorts. He wasn’t communicating well with them, or they weren’t listening. At times Stefan seemed at odds with the tactical setup. 

Quick hit: Frei is never going to want to concede five times in three matches. 

Defense

Nouhou – 4 | Community – 3.9 (off 69’ for Ragen)

Nouhou played well for about seven minutes. Then his head exploded and the team played off the back foot the rest of the match. He was fine individually for most of the rest of his time on the field, but there was a clear disconnect across the back line with everyone struggling to find any sort of cohesion.

What I liked: A vital 2nd minute touch in the box and an even more impressive defensive effort in the 43rd minute showed how important he is at removing big opposition chances. Right before half it was Nouhou versus two players and he took on both and won, in a play that saved a massive opportunity and kept the game within reach. 

What I didn’t like: There is zero excuse for whatever Nouhou was thinking in the 8th minute when he headed the ball down and into his own goal. Not Ramadan, not miscommunication with Frei, not a misheader, not a fly crawled into his ear. There is no reason for him to perform that way, and while it was likely a combination of factors, nothing makes that play defensible. Letting Frei have the ball, chesting the ball, heading clear, bicycle kicking it clear, just about anything would have been good. Maybe he started to make a clearing header then heard or saw Frei and panicked, but again, no excuse. 

Quick hit: It’s fine to blame Nouhou for not getting a win, but a whole team underperforming is to blame for not getting at least a tie. 

Jonathan Bell – 4 | Community – 5.0

Bell replaced Jackson Ragen with a chance to show he can be the middle of the distribution in the back. Instead, he showed maybe he can’t. This was a mess of a performance, as Bell massively struggled to organize and lead in the back. His 85 percent passing was okay, and six clearances were part of a disconnected defense that showed glimpses of cohesion surrounded by alarming gaps and miscommunication. 

What I liked: A nice step up in the 67th minute showed the kind of aggressive defensive instincts necessary in the back, and on a number of occasions we caught glimpses of Bell’s excellent control and dribbling ability in a crowd. He also remains a menace on set pieces. 

What I didn’t like: Seattle used the same tactical setup as earlier matches, but this one lacked cohesion and connection from back to front. Much of that was Bell, who alternated well in front and well behind his fellow defenders, but wasn’t able to make the critical line breaking passes the Sounders depend on for central build up. In the 79th minute, Seattle still looked capable of earning an away point, but Bell had some disastrous defending, first giving too much space on a long clearance from the keeper, then beaten by a give-and-go, and finally being way too slow to do anything other than watch RSL score a game-clinching goal after running past him. 

Quick hit: Bell was assumed to be an MLS-level backup at center and left back, and that assumption is in doubt after a rough early season. 

Yeimar – 6 | Community – 5.4

Yeimar was the standout in a struggling back line, doing well to smother things on the right as he adjusted to new parts on either side of him. While others had defensive and connection issues, Yeimar had 11 defensive actions and was great at holding down his side, allowing attacking push. His 70 percent passing was just okay. 

What I liked: In the 36th minute, an excellent defensive play to earn a goal kick was a standout moment. He had numerous other good plays, like in the 48th when he showed his typical quality defense. 

What I didn’t like: A 3rd minute pass mistake had everyone wondering if it was going to be one of “those games,” but instead it was just the usual blip on Yeimar’s passing chart. 

Quick hit: Yeimar got over the yips pretty quickly and has quieted the “he’s old” talk for now. 

Kalani Kossa-Rienzi – 6 | Community – 4.6 (off 69’ for Ferreira)

Kalani got a start after a call-up from Tacoma and, for the most part, acquitted himself well. Eighty percent passing and seven defensive actions, including winning two of his three tackles, showed a balanced performance. He faded into the background for much of the match as Seattle battled the conditions and their own mistakes, but Kossa-Rienzi looked mostly solid. 

What I liked: A 37th minute pass forward and direct in transition is the kind of offensive push from a wide fullback position that KKR adds. His play was almost always direct, eschewing center control to push direct and vertically.

What I didn’t like: The man he replaced (Alex Roldan) has been a duel machine for the Sounders, adding both defensive bite and midfield control, and Kalani wasn’t that. After his first touch was a kick out of bounds, he had an embarrassing fall on defense in the 23rd minute that needed some Yeimar-ing. At times, Kalani was just “there,” and other times he struggled to play at MLS-level speed. 

Quick hit: KKR is an intriguing player, but he was hard to rate because he played the role so differently than Roldan and his impact was muted. 

Defensive Midfield

Obed Vargas – 6 | Community – 5.6

Normally a dominant strength, the Seattle defensive midfield had one of the least effective matches in recent memory, relegated to putting out fires instead of driving attacks and controlling play. Obed had some nice passing connections, and similar completion numbers as in prior MLS matches, but much less impact, creating nothing for others and managing only a single shot of his own. The counter press that had been very effective so far this season was not effective after the first 10 minutes. 

What I liked: Even in a muted effort, Obed was clean in possession and did his part to hold the middle. With the defensive midfielders being pulled around the field to support tactical gaps, Obed was excellent at recognizing those needs and going where the game dictated. 

What I didn’t like: Missing almost entirely were the big Vargas moments, where a sneaky control, a dribble through traffic, or a vertical give-and-go creates space for himself or teammates. He was solid, but the upside of this pairing didn’t shine through. 

Quick hit: This game needed a Gustav Svensson “shit shoveler” performance and the defensive midfield did some of that, but not much more. 

Cristian Roldan – 7 | Community – 5.9 (MOTM)

After starting the season strong, Cristian had a muted outing against RSL. Often tasked with covering wide gaps in the midfield of a team with spacing issues, much of his play was reactive, instead of the proactive dominance we’ve come to expect. He had barely more than half the touches of his last match, and while he added 18 passes into the final third, he needed more help on the other end of those passes. He finished with a key pass and won 80 percent of his duels. 

What I liked: An excellent 22nd minute shot was Cristian’s rare foray into the attack, showing his attacking instinct mixing up where the offense came from. He was the most consistent defensive presence for Seattle, as he won 10 duels, had six recoveries, and was fouled five times in possession. 

What I didn’t like: Seattle has been most successful when Cristian is at his best, dictating play with phenomenal defense that covers the backline and supports fast, vertical transitions. When he had to chase the back line around to help them plug holes, the team as a whole lost central impetus, and it showed. 

Quick hit: Just because Cristian can do it all doesn't mean we should expect that of him in every match.

Attacking Midfield

Paul Rothrock – 4 | Community – 4.4 (off 46’ for Arriola)

Another start for Paul Rothrock and another disappointing performance as he continued his slow start to the 2025 season. This outing was troubling due to lack of impact, plus he actively lost physical battles and missed plays he’s been successful with. 

What I liked: As Seattle struggled their way into the match, Paul was clean (12/14) on passing, helping the Sounders hold the ball and look for openings. 

What I didn’t like: Zero successful dribbles (again), 1/4 successful crosses, and no chances created were poor stats, similar to last week. Paul is at his best when he can win individual battles out wide and then pop up in smart places in the box. Getting only a single touch in the RSL penalty area and a paltry 2/7 on duels was too little impact from his side of the field. 

Quick hit: So far this season Paul has a single successful cross and no successful dribbles, while being dispossessed four times, losing a high percentage of his duels, and committing many turnovers. Not great. 

Albert Rusnák – 7 (MOTM) | Community – 5.9

Albert had a solid outing against RSL, and was one of the few consistent bright spots for a team that, while struggling, still had opportunities to earn points. Much of that was through Albert, who had three shots, four key passes and 91 percent passing as a standout creator in the offensive third. 

What I liked: His corner to Jordan Morris in the 6th minute is likely an assist if Georgi Minoungou just ducks. Albert consistently found the right passes, whether it was a 27th minute ball to get Georgi free, or a 36th minute corner. Rusnák’s 55th minute shot nearly gave Seattle a lifeline back into the match from the left side. 

What I didn’t like: Late in the game at altitude, everyone was tired. While there were new pieces added to the match, there were some opportunities when Rusnák likely should have been deeper into the box or higher up and able to connect, but wasn’t. 

Quick hit: This looked a bit like last season, where Albert did good stuff, but the offense around him lacked the talent in key moments. 

Georgi Minoungou – 4 | Community – 4.6 (off 46’ for de la Vega)

Georgi Minoungou started, and struggled throughout the match to provide impact before tiring and becoming even less effective. He was subbed at halftime as both wings were upgraded. He was credited with two shots, neither on target, and surprisingly not a single successful dribble. 

What I liked: Georgi got into a number of intriguing spots, including a 36th minute header from near the six-yard box, and he’s a threat on goal in these moments. 

What I didn’t like: Minoungou was clearly offside in the 6th minute as Jordan Morris put a shot on goal. It’s hard to say if the ball would have gone in, but Georgi’s touch removed any chance of finding out. Instead of Seattle being up a goal early, RSL scored off their new striker’s forehead just two minutes later. 

Quick hit: Growing pains with Georgi are to be expected, but when he and Rothrock are paired, there may be too much lacking. 

Forward

Jordan Morris – 6 | Community – 5.5 (off 81’ for Leyva)

Jordan Morris ran his butt off and did a lot, but without the connection and service he thrives on, was reduced to being a hustle guy. The team struggled to get him the ball, and Jordan ended with two shots, two key passes, and 26 total touches. 

What I liked: Morris created chances, should have had a goal, and constantly forced the RSL back line into space. He did his job well, and whether it was breaking out in the 22nd long or creating a big chance in the 60th, he was again excellent.

What I didn’t like: Either of Jordan’s two shots could have hugely changed the narrative, the 6th minute header that Georgi stole, or the quality look in the 38th minute that was put wide. When chances are hard to come by, finishing is essential. 

Quick hit: Morris is playing at a very high level on and off the ball. 

Substitutes

Paul Arriola – 5 | Community – 5.6 (on 46’ for Rothrock)

Paul entered for Paul, and Arriola was uncharacteristically sloppy. He earned 25 touches in his half of play, but he wasn’t able to combine to crack the RSL defense as he made poor turnovers and had communication issues. He had both lousy pass completion (65 percent) and defensive stats (0/4 duels won). 

What I liked: Even though he didn’t create as much goal-scoring threat, the offense was left-leaning and ran through Paul’s movement and connection. He is a tenacious player who covers up some of his mistakes with hustle, similar to the man he replaced. 

What I didn’t like: Paul had a few opportunities to change the scoreline and his service wasn’t up to the task. Poor crosses in the 58th and 71st robbed Seattle of offense, and there was a distinct lack of precision in the second half. 

Quick hit: Combined, this was an “aPauling” performance from the left wing over the entire match. 

Pedro de la Vega – 5 | Community – 5.9 (on 46’ for Minoungou)

With the team chasing a goal and with struggling wing play, Coach Schmetzer dialed up de la Vega to run the right, and he was an effective attacker. Completing an excellent 90 percent of his passes, adding a shot on goal, a key pass, and some nifty interplay, Pedro was solid in attempting to bring tempo forward. 

What I liked: This was a strong effort from PDLV, who did some of everything. Winning possession central, drifting around to connect with teammates, a gorgeous 55th minute cross, Pedro was an injection of energy at halftime. Coach will definitely appreciate Pedro defending strongly in the 87th minute as well. 

What I didn’t like: For all his activity, Pedro didn’t do enough: zero completed crosses, zero successful dribbles, and only a single chance created. His movement and attempts were important, but they lacked essential payoffs. 

Quick hit: Pedro continues to be an exciting player, and nothing about this match changed the sky-high expectations for his play this year. 

Jesús Ferreira – 5 | Community – 5.4 (on 69’ for KKR)

Ferreira came in and unfortunately Jesús did not save the Sounders. Added to the wing, he played 21 minutes and was very calm and connective as Seattle tried to make a late push. His passing was excellent (85 percent) but didn’t create the big chances needed. 

What I liked: Jesús has such a calm smoothness around his game and he connects almost effortlessly with teammates. Because of this, he often makes smart backside movement and connectivity while doing small, essential tactical adjustments. 

What I didn’t like: Letting the ball run out of bounds in the 92nd minute was indicative of the hesitancy from the Seattle subs, and for players of the caliber brought in, quality was lacking. 

Quick hit: This match didn’t show where Jesús fits into the team, which remains somewhat of a mystery. 

Jackson Ragen – 5 | Community – 5.3 (on 69’ for Nouhou) 

After Ragen entered, the defensive shape was much improved, as was their distribution from the back, as Ragen showed off a spectacular 95 percent passing completion rate, spraying service around. 

What I liked: His calmness in the back was excellent, and the defense around him coalesced as Seattle took more control of the midfield. 

What I didn’t like: The defense was good until it wasn’t, as Bell and Ragen were disconnected in the 79th minute off a long keeper clearance, and a too-easy sequence put the game away. Jackson dropped way too far and was not cohesive with Yeimar and Bell. 

Quick hit: Ragen showed why he’s the starter, but also displayed another big error. 

Danny Leyva – 6 | Community – 5.3 (on 81’ for Morris) 

Again Leyva was brought into the match and again Levya impressed. He seemed to be everywhere in the middle, combining with the width, sliding passes through, and showing a control and maturity in the attack. He only touched the ball 16 times, but he created a chance, had a shot, and looked the part in 10 minutes. 

What I liked: His 85th minute shot is the kind of take you want this position to hit, and Leyva followed that up with a slick flick to Arriola a minute later, cutting out multiple defenders with a scoop pass over and into the box for Paul to run onto. 

What I didn’t like: Leyva brought a lot of creativity into the middle but is still a man on the outside looking in for time. 

Quick hit: It’s great seeing Danny show well early in the season, and big things may be in store if he continues like this. 

Referee

Ricardo Fierro – 5 | Community – 5.3

With tough conditions and Seattle shooting themselves in the foot early, this match wasn’t defined by the referee crew, but there were some big decisions necessitated by the play. With 26 fouls called and three cards, there were moments when a stronger presence could have been helpful, with a number of missed calls. 

What I liked: Warning the home team about time wasting (in the 15th minute, no less) was a nice touch and recognizing that it was Yeimar who was fouled in the box in the 40th minute was a relief, as RSL players were trying to bait a PK. 

What I didn’t like: Not even checking (or checking extremely fast) on the Morris to Rusnák goal in the 60th minute was frustrating, as was allowing constant dives. The 94th minute flagrant cleat to the knee is a red card against any other player, but apparently not when it happens to Cristian Roldan. 

Quick hit: The referee didn’t lose this one for Seattle. 

Real Salt Lake MOTM

Diego Luna is a menace. Dude led his side in tackles and interceptions (from the number ten position, of course). He was also second on the team is shot-creating actions. On top of that, it was his dart into the box (one of many) that forced Nouhou’s RSL opener.

Upcoming: The Blue Cross comes to Lumen midweek, and it’s a massive litmus test for the early season.