Real Salt Lake secured a 2-0 victory over New York City FC in their MLS clash this evening.
The home side threatened when Devon Sandoval latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and fired a low effort at goal, but Josh Saunders managed to scramble back on his line to keep the ball out.
Real kept the pressure on as Demar Phillips raided down the right and hit a cross to the near post which was headed at goal by Luke Mulholland, but his effort went wide of the target.
Saunders made another good save to keep the home side at bay as he got down to his left to beat away an effort from Sandoval after the forward had linked up well with Alvaro Saborio.
Real took the lead in the 25th minute as Sandoval headed the ball into the path of John Stertzer, who maintained his composure to fire an effort past Saunders.
Saborio came close to adding a second for the home side when he drilled a free kick towards goal, but Saunders beat the ball away, while Sandoval failed to latch onto the rebound.
In the second half, Real doubled their lead when Mulholland fired a cross into the box and Saborio met the ball with a diving header which flew past Saunders.
Salt Lake pushed for a third goal to kill the game off as Javier Morales released the run of Mulholland and, although the midfielder failed to find the net with a low drive, his side were able to hold out for the victory with ease.
Simon Sinclair
