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SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake scored twice after halftime, both goals set up by Brazilian Paulo Junior, to beat Tauro FC 2-0 in a CONCACAF Champions League group stage match at Rio Tinto Stadium Tuesday night.
The win snapped Real Salt Lake's four-match winless streak, including a 1-0 defeat at Herediano in its Group 2 opener.
Three minutes into the second half, Paulo Junior worked his way through traffic into the box and, after his initial shot was saved by Alvaro Anzola, Alvaro Saborio pounced on the rebound and scored from seven meters.
Paulo Junior, who was an influential force in the second half, also set up Real Salt Lake's second goal. He fed Kyle Beckerman, who touched inside to shed a defender and create space before firing a left-footed shot from the top of the 18 to double the hosts advantage in the 58th minute.
RSL had to play the final 18 minutes with only 10 men after Beckerman was ejected by Guatemalan referee Oscar Reyna for a studs-up challenge in midfield. It was the second straight group stage match Salt Lake finished with 10, having Nat Borchers issued a red card against Herediano on July 31.
The first half was dominated by the host, which was frustrated by Anzola, who made several acrobatic saves.
In the 16th minute, Paulo Junior set up Ned Grabavoy, whose first-time shot from eight meters was saved by Anzola. Saborio's rebound attempt deflected out for one of RSL's six first-half corner kicks.
Tauro's best scoring chance came four minutes later when Ronaldo Botello's long distance volley against the run of play sailed just wide of the target.
Three minutes after Anzola saved Saborio's back post header, Grabavoy took a ball off his chest and hammered a shot off the right post from the edge of the box in the 36th minute.
Paulo Junior had a pair of opportunities in the 39th minute, but Anzola denied him both times. The Tauro keeper also backpeddled just before halftime to get a piece of a Saborio snap header.
Tauro, which was without captain Luis Renteria, who transferred to Bolivar in the Bolivian league, will host Herediano in its next Champions League match on August 30.
Real Salt Lake plays its third group stage match in Panama City against Tauro on September 18.




