Real Salt Lake scored two second-half goals to beat Tauro FC 2-0 on Tuesday and keep their CONCACAF Champions League hopes alive.
Having lost their first Champions League match, Salt Lake were in desperate need for three points at home. After a frustrating first half, they turned it on late to grab all three points.
That Salt Lake wasn't ahead at halftime was borderline criminal and Alvaro Anzola was the thief. The Tauro goalkeeper was sensational in the opening 45 minutes and was almost single-handedly responsible for keeping RSL off of the scoreboard.
Three minutes into the second half, RSL finally did beat Anzola. Of course, the play started with Anzola denying Paulo Jr., but Alvaro Saborio hopped on the rebound and buried it to give the home side a lead.
Just before the hour mark, Kyle Beckerman doubled Salt Lake's lead when he took a pass from Paulo Jr. and did well to create just enough space to unleash a shot. It was a good shot too, eluding Anzola from 18 yards and putting RSL 2-0 up.
It wasn't all good news for RSL, though. Beckerman was sent off for a studs-up tackle with 18 minutes remaining and Salt Lake had to hold on to their lead with just 10 men. He will also have to miss the team's next Champions League contest. This came after Nat Borchers was sent off in Salt Lake's first Champions League match and had to miss the Tauro match.
With the win, Salt Lake joins Herediano atop Group 2 on three points, although RSL has played two matches to Herediano's one. The Costa Rican side will have the chance to move back in front of RSL when they play Tauro in the next group match, while the Panamanians will look to make it a three-way tie atop the group.
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