Winless streak reaches nine for under-pressure Sounders

The Sounders have had some positive moments and improved play over the last two matches.

In a different context two away points might be viewed as steady play, but Seattle haven’t won a league match since May 9.

On July 4th the Sounders drew nil-nil at RSL.

A Seattle Times editorial has ripped this year’s squad.

Headlined “Someone needs to light a fire under whiny Sounders,”Steve Kelley penned a column on July 3rd that has Sounders fans talking, and surely has reached the desk of the front office.

Coach Sigi Schmid’s rant last month, saying he believed U.S. Soccer wanted a team other than the Sounders to win the Open Cup, was really bad form and reflected the team’s misplaced sense of entitlement.

This is the most talented team in the Sounders’ four-year MLS history, but it’s the least likable. —Steve Kelley

Real Salt Lake 0:0 Seattle Sounders

SANDY, Utah – Sounders FC (7-5-6, 27 points) picked up a road point in a scoreless draw with Real Salt Lake (10-6-3, 33 points) Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. It marks the seventh clean sheet of the season for Sounders FC, and their first since May 9.

Goalkeeper Bryan Meredith, in his first start since June 16, made two saves and earned his third shutout of 2012.

Seattle finished with just eight shots, but didn’t lack for chances, much in thanks to midfielder Mauro Rosales. In the 24th minute, the Argentine sent a dangerous cross into the box, but RSL keeper Nick Rimando punched it away as Eddie Johnson rose to head it in.

In the 59th, a charging Zach Scott rose up and struck a Rosales free kick, but the shot sailed high. In the 88th, the defending MLS Newcomer of the Year sent a low cross across the box, but a streaking Cordell Cato couldn’t quite get his foot to it in front of an open net.

Johnson, who had scored four goals in the previous four matches, was close on a few occasions and finished with a team-high four shots. In the 63rd, he made a hard run into the box on the left side, but his low shot rolled wide of the far post.

In second half stoppage time, the American striker rose and headed a cross from Marc Buch, but the attempt went wide.

Sounders FC return to action on Saturday against Colorado in their lone MLS home match during the month of July. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network.

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