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Approximately an hour before Real Salt Lake kicked off what turned out to be another methodical road performance against its bitter rivals, the club's first-choice lineup was revealed.

The way the 11 starters managed the 3-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City Saturday night at Children's Mercy Park, it'd be a task to argue otherwise at this point. The return of center back Aaron Maund as well as defensive midfielder Sunday Stephen aided in what was RSL's best overall performance in over a month, snagging three points on the road for the first time on this ongoing five-game road trip.

Along with snapping a 231-minute scoreless streak, RSL (6-3-2, 20 points) eradicated the concern of the 1-0 flop at West doormat Houston a weekend prior.

"I told the guys before the game, it's time to change the mentality because two losses in a row is not good for any team," midfielder Javier Morales said, "and I think the reaction was great. We got a win, and now we're ready to go to Columbus."

With some momentum in tow.

For the second time in seven weeks, RSL topped Sporting KC on its home turf following an identical blueprint to the 2-1 win there on April 2. While KC held nearly 59 percent of the possession, it was RSL that buried the chances allotted by a leaky KC back line.

"Kansas City is going to have a lion's share of the play, especially at home," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "They present a lot of really difficult things for opposing teams. I was really proud of our shape."

The RSL front four, under some criticism from its lackluster performance against the Dynamo, returned to form, creating all three goals. No sequence was more evidential than capitalizing on the turnover by Matt Besler deep in KC territory. Four pinpoint passes between Joao Plata, Javier Morales and Burrito Martinez resulted in a simple tap in for Martinez at the far post.

What could turn out to be the biggest development out of the win was the performance of Yura Movsisyan. The center forward rifled a shot off the arm of Brad Davis — labeled an own goal — before killing off KC's momentum after it inched within 2-1 early in the second half. Movsisyan's chip in the 53rd minute could provide momentum for the RSL striker as the road trip rolls on.

"It was huge," Cassar said.

Maund's return to the lineup once again provided the stabilizing presence the center back was provided since staking claim to a starting spot in 2015. The 25-year-old missed the club's last two matches due a hamstring strain suffered on April 30. When Maund is paired with Justen Glad on the back line, RSL improved to 5-0-0 with a plus-six goal differential.

RSL is 1-3-2 with a minus-four goal differential otherwise.

"[Sporting KC} really makes you test if you believe in what you're doing and credit to our players, they did that," Cassar said. "They kept their shape, they kept their discipline and they punished them on the other end."

RSL will have to continue that familiar formula as the tail-end of the road voyage approaches.

That ideal starting lineup will not remain, however. Beckerman is one of 23 players summoned for national team duty for this summer's Copa America Centenario. The RSL captain will miss at least the next two matches and depending on how far the U.S. progresses at the tournament, it could be more.

If nothing else, another win at Sporting KC offered a glimpse worth remembering when the RSL captain returns.

"Three points," Beckerman said, "is three points."

ckamrani@sltrib.com Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew

P Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

TV • KMYU