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SANDY — For the first time in almost three years, CONCACAF Champions League action returned to Rio Tinto Stadium Thursday night and did not disappoint.
In Real Salt Lake's third match in the competition this year, it took more than 70 minutes for the team to find the back of the net and shake off any lingering memories of its 2012 Champions League exit at home.
The breakthrough eventually came thanks to a cross off the foot of Javier Morales that was headed in by Olmes Garcia. And just minutes later, second-half substitutes Morales and Juan Martinez played a one-two that allowed Martinez to get one-on-one with the keeper and put RSL ahead for good against Salvadoran club Santa Tecla.
Fans who witnessed the previous Champions League match hosted in Sandy likely experienced some semblance of a flashback to the night nearly three years ago, when RSL was eliminated due to a 0-0 draw against Costa Rican side Herediano, despite RSL only needing a draw in which it scored to advance to the knockout stage.
"It's always nice to see the fans here," Garcia said. "The stadium fills up and everyone comes to support the team. We have nice supporters that motivate us when we're losing and even more when we're winning."
With the 2-1 victory over Santa Tecla Thursday, RSL moved to 7-1-1 all-time in home Champions League fixtures. The lone defeat came after RSL became the first MLS club to ever reach the Champions League final, and ultimately lost 1-0 against Monterrey and 3-2 on aggregate.
Now in its third go-round hosting matches within the competition, and following a record-setting attendance figure set at Rio Tinto last Saturday versus Los Angeles, 18,182 showed up to support the Champions League Group G leaders Salt Lake.
RSL had it hands full against Santa Tecla, the reigning champs in El Salvador's first division, which currently is in sixth place through nine matches played in its home league this season.
The Salvadoran club was determined to have at least four defenders behind the ball every time RSL reached the attacking third of the pitch, and only occasionally managed legitimate counter attacks. But one such occasion, when Santa Tecla was able to spring a move forward by dispossessing Joao Plata just across midfield, the visitors took advantage via a ball over the top of RSL's back line and went ahead 1-0.
The introductions of Javier Morales and Kyle Beckerman 66 minutes in re-energized RSL going forward, and the addition of Martinez six minutes later made it obvious goal-scoring chances were coming for the hosts.
"We knew we couldn't make some mistakes," Santa Tecla coach Osvaldo Escudero said. "Real Salt Lake is a very dangerous team."
Not only did the substitutes make RSL much more formidable going forward, but they also gave new life to the Rio Tinto Stadium crowd. Many of the onlookers in attendance rose to their feet when Morales and Beckerman entered, and the customary chant of "El Burrito" greeted Martinez and then again was used to applaud his game-winning goal.
RSL now holds a firm grasp on Champions League Group G with seven points – three clear of Guatemalan club Municipal, which RSL will meet in Sandy for its final group-stage game Oct. 20.
Next up for RSL is Sunday's tilt at San Jose, scheduled for 5 p.m. MDT. The match can be seen nationally on Fox Sports 1. Kyle Spencer is a freelance journalist residing in Orem. You can find him on Twitter @kyledspencer or reach him by email at kspence04@gmail.com.
