Real Salt Lake can't seem to lose. Well, in non-MLS competitions that is.
In addition to a U.S. Open Cup semifinal run this year, RSL has gotten off to a good start in the CONCACAF Champions League with a 1-0 win over CSD Municipal in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Tuesday night.
A Joao Plata goal was the difference for RSL against the Guatemalan side, as the Ecuadorian found the back of the net for the fourth straight game.
In the second minute of the match, Javier Morales took a free kick along the right sideline, which was headed out by a Municipal defender right to Plata. The striker controlled the ball off his chest and then fired it through the legs of Municipal defender Dennis Lopez and past the goalkeeper Paulo Cesar Motta for the only goal of the game.
RSL dominated possession in the first half, controlling the tempo and keeping the pressure off keeper Nick Rimando. Rimando was tested a couple times though, with the most serious threat coming off a free kick late in the first half. Rimando stretched for the curling ball and was able to get a hand on it and the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.
Kyle Beckerman was shown a yellow card in the 29th minute for a challenge on Municipal midfielder Keylor Soto.
The second half was a different story, as Municipal started to apply the pressure on Rimando as it reeled off 11 shots, four of them on goal. Rimando finished with four saves, including a save at point-blank range on a shot from Carlos Ruiz in the 77th minute.
In comparison, RSL didn't have much going offensively after Plata's goal. Plata and Jaime both had shots on target in the second half, but Lopez headed Plata's out and Jaime's was corralled by the keeper.
Joao Plata of USAs Real Salt Lake, second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Guatemalas Municipal during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Claudio Albizuris of Guatemalas Municipal, right, heads the ball besides Joao Plata of USAs Real Salt Lake during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Deniss Lopez of Guatemalas Municipal, right, and Sebastian Jaime of USAs Real Salt Lake vie for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Carlos Hernandez of Guatemalas Municipal, left, controls the ball against Kyle Beckerman of USAs Real Salt Lake during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Johny Giron of Guatemalas Municipal, right, and Tony Beltran of USAs Real Salt Lake fight for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Javier Morales of USAs Real Salt Lake, left, and Guatemalas Municipal Johny Giron fight for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Joao Plata of USAs Real Salt Lake, left, controls the ball against Johny Giron of Guatemalas Municipal during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Referee Raul Castro, right, from Honduras, talks with Dennis Lopez of Guatemalas Municipal during a CONCACAF Champions League match against USAs Real Salt Lake in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Johny Giron of Guatemalas Municipal, right, and Olmes Garcia of USAs Real Salt Lake go for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Sebastian Jaime of USAs Real Salt Lake strikes the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match against Guatemalas Municipal in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Carlos Ruiz of Guatemalas Municipal kicks the ball against USAs Real Salt Lake during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Claudio Albizuris of Guatemalas Municipal, center, controls the ball against USAs Real Salt Lake players during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Luke Mulholland of USAs Real Salt Lake, front, and Carlos Ruiz of Guatemalas Municipal fight for the ball during a CONCACAF Champions League match in Guatemala City, Tuesday, August 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)