Javier Morales strike hands 10-man Real Salt Lake win

A first-half strike from Javier Morales was enough to guide 10-man Real Salt Lake to a 1-0 victory over Colorado Rapids in their MLS clash.

The visitors could have taken the lead in the 10th minute when Robbie Findley collected the ball outside the area and hit a volley at goal, but saw his effort well saved by Clinton Irwin.

Salt Lake did go ahead minutes later as Chris Wingert did well to win the ball from Marvell Wynne in the box and tee up Morales, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

The Rapids looked to respond immediately and Dillon Serna should have done better as he fired a shot from inside the box straight into the hands of Nick Rimando.

Deshorn Brown spurned another chance for the home side when a loose ball fell to him inside the six-yard box, but he could only poke his effort over the bar when under pressure from Aaron Maund.

Salt Lake were reduced to 10 men when Maund was shown a straight red card for bringing down Vicente Sanchez on the edge of the box, denying him a goalscoring opportunity.

The home side surged forward to press for an equaliser and almost found it through Brown, as he latched onto Chris Klute's pass into the area and fired a shot across goal, but Rimando made the save.

Colorado continued to attack the Salt Lake goal, but the visitors were resolute at the back and managed to hold out for the three points.