After being shut out for two consecutive games, host team Real Salt Lake took their chances, gaining a quick lead with two goals in the first half and adding another in the second to secure a 3-1 win against the Kansas City Wizards on Wednesday night.

Two of Real's three Argentine imports demonstrated their talent early in the game, each scoring their first MLS goals before halftime.

Matias Mantilla's header off of a Javier Morales corner kick 40 seconds into the game caught Kevin Hartman by surprise.

Real Salt Lake maintained this early lead, keeping pressure on the Wizard defense and outshooting their guests 10-4 in the first half.

In the 42nd minute, Alecko Eskandarian split two Kansas City defenders with a beautiful pass to Fabian Espindola. With finesse, Espindola dribbled towards the net, drawing Hartman out of the box and shooting from a hard angle to place the ball in the low right corner.

While the half ended on a high note for the home team, Kansas City showed signs of a comeback with several opportunities in the beginning of the second.

In the 69th minute, Eddie Johnson connected with a pass from Sasha Victorine, taking it out of the air to blast into the upper left hand corner.

For a moment the Wizard's second half wind seemed to have caught real momentum. Both teams struggled to maintain possession, playing hard to the ball. This resulted in several fouls, which totaled 31 by game's end: 17 for Real and 14 for Kansas City.

The Wizards possible comeback was squashed in the 85th minute with Andy Williams' goal, his first of the season. Williams caught Hartman off the goal line to lob up and over the keeper's head.

While Kansas City continued to scramble, Williams secured the victory, Real Salt Lake's third of the season.

The result dropped Kansas City to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. They have now won one of five ahead of facing the Houston Dynamos, the Western Conference leaders.

Scoring
RSL - Matias Mantilla 1 (Javier Morales) 1'
RSL - Fabian Espindola 1 (Alecko Eskandarian) 42'
KC - Eddie Johnson 13 (Sasha Victorine, Carlos Marinelli) 69'
RSL - Andy Williams 1 (Atiba Harris) 85'

Line-ups
KC - Kevin Hartman; Ryan Raybould, Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl, Jose Burciaga Jr. (Michael Harrington 61'), Sasha Victorine, Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin (Eloy Colombano 46'), Kurt Morsink, Eddie Johnson, Scott Sealy (Ryan Pore 85')

RSL - Nick Rimando; Jean-Martial Kipre, Matias Mantilla, Eddie Pope (Chris Wingert 55'), Ritchie Kotschau, Fabian Espindola, Kyle Beckerman, Carey Talley (Atiba Harris 70'), Javier Morales (Andy Williams 46'), Chris Brown, Alecko Eskandarian