The Seattle Sounders FC outshot Real Salt Lake 21-0 in 120 minutes at Lumen Field on Tuesday night, but the visitors came up one kick short in the 6-5 penalty shootout, causing a spectacular upset in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs' final Round One meeting. RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa saved Kelyn Rowe's 11th shootout kick before Justen Glad scored the game-winning kick with the help of a post and a lucky bounce. RSL, the seventh seed in the Western Conference, will face Sporting Kansas City in the Conference Semifinals on Sunday.

The Sounders did everything they could in the first half to include Jordan Morris, who was making his first start since MLS Cup 2020 after a protracted recovery from an ACL tear, but neither team managed to score. This includes a fantastic loud-noise sequence in the 15th minute, in which Morris, Brad Smith, and Cristian Roldan all had shots stopped on their way to RSL putting an end to the threat.

Then, in the 73rd minute, Ruidiaz attempted a long-range shot that RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa sprang for, grateful to see the likely opener deflect off the crossbar. As the game progressed into extra time, the pattern remained. A 113th-minute Roldan header that Ochoa saved, aided by Lodeiro, and then a 117th-minute handball call on Justen in front of the RSL goal. It's a good thing that wasn't given.

The sides converted all PKs until sudden death, with Pablo Ruiz getting a second chance after his shot was denied by Stefan Frei but ruled to be aided by encroachment. Then, in the sixth round, Rowe's shot was stopped, and Glad's attempt was sent home after touching both Frei and one post, then the other for the surprising finale.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Alejandro Sanchez]