Real Salt Lake extended its Major League Soccer unbeaten streak to seven games on Saturday night with a 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City at America First Field in Sandy.
Chicho Arango scored on a header in the 81st minute off an assist from fellow Colombian Brayan Vera on a free kick as RSL (6-2-3) took sole possession of first place in the MLS Western Conference. Third-place Vancouver, three points behind RSL in the standings, was hosting Austin later Saturday night.
Arango notched his ninth goal of the season, and he also has seven assists. He has been battling with two Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for the league’s scoring lead. Miami routed the New York Red Bulls 6-2 on Saturday night. Luis Suarez had a hat trick and now has 10 goals and five assists on the season. Messi set a record with five assists in the game and also scored a goal, giving him 10 goals and 12 assists.
Just a couple of minutes before Arango scored, Andrés Gómez nearly gave RSL the lead with a mid-range shot from the right side that was barely deflected by Kansas City goalkeeper John Pulskamp and went off the post.
Zac MacMath had one save for Real Salt Lake. Pulskamp had three for Kansas City, which fell to 2-5-5 on the season.
Real Salt Lake will return to action with a U.S. Open Cup game on Wednesday at New Mexico, and will visit the LA Galaxy for an MLS showdown next Saturday (8:30 p.m. MDT, Apple TV).