Real Salt Lake 3-1 Sporting Kansas City

Real Salt Lake beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Saturday night, and the explanation sits in the finishing. Morgan Guilavogui scored in the 11th minute and again in the 61st, Sergi Solans added a goal in the 14th, and Real Salt Lake put 8 shots on goal against 3 from Sporting Kansas City. Taylor Calheira's 26th-minute strike was the only answer from Sporting Kansas City, who sit on 22 points, the fewest in MLS, according to CBS Sports.

What happened in the first half at Sporting Park?

Real Salt Lake started in a 5-4-1 shape and Sporting Kansas City in a 4-4-2. Morgan Guilavogui scored in the 11th minute, assisted by Noel Caliskan according to CBS Sports, and Sergi Solans added a second in the 14th.

Taylor Calheira answered for Sporting Kansas City in the 26th minute, with André Luiz credited on the play. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Real Salt Lake held a 2-1 lead after the 26th minute. Luc de Fougerolles picked up a yellow card for Real Salt Lake in first-half stoppage time.

How did Real Salt Lake close out the win after halftime?

Morgan Guilavogui sealed the win in the 61st minute for his second goal, which CBS Sports highlighted in its report of a 3-1 result for Real Salt Lake. Guilavogui led Real Salt Lake with 4 total shots on the night.

Juan Manuel Sanabria was booked for Real Salt Lake in the 72nd minute, then Calvin Harris in the 74th and Jacob Bartlett in the 76th were cautioned for Sporting Kansas City. Stefan Cleveland made 5 saves for Sporting Kansas City, but the hosts never found a second goal.

What do the numbers say about the shot battle?

Real Salt Lake took 13 shots, with 8 on goal, while Sporting Kansas City took 8 shots, with 3 on goal. Sporting Kansas City held 50.8 percent possession and Real Salt Lake 49.2 percent, so the ball was shared evenly.

Sporting Kansas City completed 473 accurate passes, won 7 corner kicks and committed 14 fouls. Real Salt Lake completed 456 accurate passes, won 5 corner kicks and committed 10 fouls. Rafael made 1 save for Real Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake collected 4 yellow cards and Sporting Kansas City 3.

How does the result change the MLS standings?

Real Salt Lake has 36 points, with 10 wins, 6 draws and 14 losses. The Salt Lake Tribune placed the club 10th in the West, 3 behind Colorado, and noted that 9 teams per conference qualify for the playoffs.

Sporting Kansas City has 22 points, the fewest in MLS according to CBS Sports, along with a goal differential of -39. Sporting Kansas City had lost 4-0 to Nashville SC before this one. Sporting Kansas City hosts Austin FC next, and Real Salt Lake hosts St. Louis CITY SC, both next Saturday.

The numbers at Scorely

Stat	Sporting Kansas City	Real Salt Lake
Possession	50.8 %	49.2 %
Shots	8	13
Shots on target	3	8
Shot accuracy	40 %	60 %
Accurate passes	473	456
Pass accuracy	90 %	90 %
Corners	7	5
Fouls	14	10
Yellow cards	3	4

Team	Last 5
Sporting Kansas City	W 2-0 vs. Houston Dynamo FC, L 2-1 vs. Seattle Sounders FC, D 3-3 vs. Portland Timbers, L 4-0 vs. Nashville SC, L 3-1 vs. Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake	L 2-0 vs. Seattle Sounders FC, W 3-0 vs. New England Revolution, L 2-1 vs. Philadelphia Union, D 1-1 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, W 3-1 vs. Sporting Kansas City

Pos	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Nashville SC	30	+41	67
2	Inter Miami CF	30	+22	55
3	New England Revolution	30	+8	52
4	Chicago Fire FC	30	+8	48
1	Vancouver Whitecaps	30	+32	55
2	St. Louis CITY SC	30	+15	51
3	FC Dallas	30	+8	51
4	San Jose Earthquakes	30	+10	48