CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake 2 Saprissa 0

Real Salt Lake made a dream start to their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Saprissa with a 2-0 win in the first-leg on Tuesday.

Real, who finished just three points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy last season in the race for the MLS Supporter’ Shield, took the lead against the Costa Rican outfit through a Costa Rican of their own – Alvorio Saborio – who fired them ahead after just eight minutes.

It was the second time in as many Champions League matches that Saborio had opened the scoring for Real, after he broke the deadlock in their 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win over the Columbus Crew.

Argentinean striker Fabian Espindola doubled their advantage 11 minutes after the break as frustrations mounted for the Costa Ricans, who had five players cautioned during the match.

The victory gives Real a two-goal cushion to take to Costa Rica for the second leg, which will be played on April 5 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose.