You can still win even if you don’t shoot in soccer. In some ways, Real Salt Lake gave the Sounders some of their own medicine. After all, didn’t the Seattle Sounders win an MLS championship a few years ago by hunkering down on defense? Winning playoff games without taking a lot of shots on goal and scoring much at all?
Image credit for the above picture of Real Salt Lake winning despite no taking a shot goes to Fox Soccer. Real Salt Lake did have one corner kick at least! Seattle only had 12 shots but did have 15 corner kicks.
It is amazing though, Real Salt Lake had no shots on target. As in zero SHOTS, in not just the usual 90 minutes of the soccer game but 120 minutes. The extra time since it was an MLS playoff game.
After registering zero shots on target in 120 minutes, Real Salt Lake eliminated the Seattle Sounders from the 2021 MLS Playoffs with a win in a penalty kick shootout. Now it would really be something if Real Salt Lake continue this no shots on target and win their next playoff game!
From ksl.com: “Seattle had nearly two dozen shots, three shots on goal and 62% of possession, but remained scoreless through 120 minutes of play, including 30 minutes of extra time.
RSL had less: zero shots, no shots on goal, no shots blocked, and a meager 38% of possession. Ochoa made two saves and practiced the “Dark Arts” as if it were a World Cup qualifier in CONCACAF to preserve a chance at advancing to face Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference semifinals.”
What’s more, Real Salt Lake’s no shots on goal playoff win came in Seattle. The Sounders fan couldn’t help push their team on to a win. I’m guessing a win like this hasn’t happen before in the history of the MLS. Yeah, it’s not something the players are proud of I’m sure but a win is a win. And like I said earlier, the Sounders have a history of winning games without taking too many shots or pushing in the attack.
