Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz couldn’t score on a bicycle kick in the 55th minute Wednesday against Real Salt Lake, as he has in training, but most of the other work the team has put in lately is paying off.
Both of Seattle’s goals in the MLS Western Conference semifinal and its defensive tactics were products of tweaks made within the month at the club’s Starfire Sports training facility in Tukwila — including midfielder Gustav Svensson’s header in the 64th minute that helped advance second-seeded Seattle to the conference finals. The Sounders will travel to top-seeded Los Angeles FC on Tuesday, with the playoff match airing at 7 p.