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GUATEMALA CITY — Real Salt Lake waited two years to make it back to the CONCACAF Champions League, qualifying for this year's tournament for the first time since 2013.
Joao Plata only made them wait two minutes to top their group.
Plata slotted home Javier Morales' deflected free kick inside the far post to take a 1-0 lead, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando made three saves to give RSL a 1-0 win over Municipal at Estadio Mateo Flores on Tuesday night.
Rimando, who made his first start for RSL since a 2-2 home draw with Columbus on June 27, earned the shutout in the 42nd minute. The MLS all-time leader in shutouts punched away Carlos Ruiz's blast from outside the 18-yard box to keep the visitors in front, and set them atop a group that also includes CCL newcomer Santa Tecla of El Salvador.
Sebastian Jaime nearly scored 20 minutes into the second half, but his shot was cleared off the line by Municipal's Paulo Motta. Plata attempted to bury the rebound, but his shot was headed off the line to keep the home team within striking distance.
Plata's goal was his fourth-straight match with a marker in all competitions for RSL, and the Ecuadorian striker who started the season out with a foot injury is now alone in third place on his team with four goals in 2015.
The match also saw the first minutes in an RSL uniform for recently acquired Luis Silva. The midfielder/forward who came to Salt Lake two weeks ago via trade with D.C. United played the final three minutes of regulation in relief of Plata.
RSL will face Santa Tecla on Sept. 15 in CCL play before returning home for its final two matches of the group stage. The Salt Lake side returns to MLS play Aug. 8 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Contributing: Jeremiah Jensen
