Sandy » As it turns out, maybe the masses weren't giving Real Salt Lake enough credit -- or enough of a chance -- in the week leading up to Saturday's matchup against Mexican powerhouse Club America.

With RSL playing what amounted to a "road game" against America at Rio Tinto Stadium -- Real Salt Lake was booed during warm-ups -- RSL was able to use a stout defense and a crisp second half to defeat America 1-0 before 17,212 mostly partisan Club America fans.

In a "friendly" that turned chippy enough to warrant five combined yellow cards and one Yura Movsisyan ejection, Real Salt Lake proved to be the tougher team. The more well-conditioned team. The better team.

As a result, Real Salt Lake moved to 6-4-1 in international exhibitions.

"I thought that it was clear that our midfielders were better than theirs," RSL defender Nat Borchers said. "I thought Javier Morales was the best player on the field, and he was clearly better than anyone they put out there."

In the 54th minute, Morales scored what proved to be the winning goal. Taking the ball on the wing, he dribbled into position, fired a cross just inside the left side of the box and scored from about 15 yards out.

The goal was a culmination of a day in which Real Salt Lake looked like the dominant team. RSL, defensively, allowed just two shots on goal, one in each half. Conversely, they peppered America with chances, many which came close to being finished.

"I was very pleased," Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis said. "I thought it was a great effort. I thought we started well. I thought we ended well. I thought we did a really good job in all areas of the game today."

Now the key, for RSL, is taking a landmark win and turning it into success in the second half of the Major League Soccer season. If Saturday night's win proved anything, it's that Real Salt Lake is capable of competing against some of the best talent in the world.

Club America showed its movement off the ball, yet RSL was able to counter defensively. America pressured the ball defensively, and attempted to convert turnovers into scoring chances. Yet, Real Salt Lake was effective controlling the ball and getting into its offense.

RSL played with a giant chip on its shoulder, the product of many not giving them a chance to beat the most high-profile international team it has played since a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in 2006.

Expanding on this victory, said Kreis, was of paramount importance, especially since his team is on the outside looking in when it comes to the MLS Western Conference playoff race.

"I wouldn't sell this victory short at all," Kreis said. "This is a fantastic ballclub. We've said so all week, and it was proven today. They played to win. They kept their starters in for most of the game. I'm very proud of what we put into this game today, and I'm very proud of what we got out of it. We just have to keep it going."

tjones@sltrib.com