RSL settles for scoreless draw against 10-ma..

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Seattle • Real Salt Lake could not punish 10-man Seattle in an important Major League Soccer game on Wednesday night, settling for a scoreless draw despite playing with a man advantage for the final hour at CenturyLink Field.

The Sounders mostly controlled the game, in fact, even after defender Zach Scott was sent off in the 30th minute with his second yellow card.

Nevertheless, the result did not hurt RSL badly, in its pursuit of a top-three finish in the MLS Western Conference.

The point it gained in the standings kept it three ahead of the Sounders and six ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy, making it unlikely that RSL won't finish in the top three and avoid the new wild-card playoff game.

Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando returned from international duty in time to start for RSL — team co-owner Dell Loy Hansen had them flown to Seattle from Kansas City on his private plane — but forward Alvaro Saborio and midfielder Will Johnson were still away.

Defender Jamison Olave missed the second half, too, after straining his hamstring.

mcl@sltrib.com

Twitter: @MCLTribune

RSL settles for scoreless draw against 10-man Sounders