With three key players having returned from international duty, Real Salt Lake beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 in a Major League Soccer game on Saturday night at America First Field in Sandy.
RSL (10-14-4) took a two-goal lead in the 62nd minute and held on for the victory despite giving up an own goal.
Diego Luna, who turned heads during his recent stint with the U.S. national team and returned to RSL sporting pink hair, scored the opening goal in the 40th minute.
In the 62nd minute, Zavier Gozo delivered a perfect assist over a crowded box to Alexandros Katranis, who scored to give RSL a 2-0 lead.
Kansas City (7-17-6) saw its deficit cut in half when Salt Lake’s Brayan Vera was tagged with an own goal in the 71st minute, but RSL held on for the victory. With the win, RSL moved up to 10th place in the Western Conference, one spot short of playoff position.
Real Salt Lake had a 20-13 advantage in shots in the game, including a 7-3 advantage in shots on goal.
RSL goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made three saves, while Kansas City’s John Pulskamp stopped five shots.
RSL, with six games remaining in the regular season, is scheduled to host LAFC on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).