Real Salt Lake maintained their impressive start to the 2013 MLS campaign with a 1-0 win over Chivas USA at the Rio Tinto Stadium.
The hosts almost got off to the perfect start when Olmes Garcia took the ball in stride on the edge of the penalty area and lifted a shot over Dan Kennedy, only to see his effort clatter off the crossbar.
Kennedy was called into action to make a good save from Luis Gil after the midfielder was played behind the Chivas defence, but the keeper made an great one-handed stop to keep the scores level.
Chivas were handed a great opportunity to take the lead when Ned Grabavoy handled in the area and a penalty was awarded, but Nick Rimando made a great save to deny Edgar Mejia from the spot.
After the break, Real Salt Lake finally took the lead on a counter-attack as Javier Morales headed home Alvaro Saborio's pinpoint cross into the bottom corner.
Saborio could have added a goal of his own but he fired just wide of the post when he was put through, while Morales saw another effort tipped over the bar by Kennedy.
The match ended on a further low note for Chivas and Mejia when he was given a straight red card for a challenge of Grabavoy, as the hosts saw out the win.
Simon Sinclair
