Real Salt Lake cruises by Toronto FC, 4-1

MLS standings

SANDY — Toronto FC's emotional high didn't last nearly long enough Wednesday night.

Spurred on by the firing of its coach and general manager the day before, Toronto came out flying at Rio Tinto Stadium bagging an early goal to seize control of the CONCACAF Champions League group play match.

By the end of the night, however, Toronto was in a state of shock.

Real Salt Lake responded with four straight goals en route to a dominating 4-1 victory to extend its home unbeaten streak in all competitions to 28 straight.

With the victory, RSL improved to 2-1-0 in CCL group play and is tied with Cruz Azul with six points through three matches. Toronto FC and Arabe Unido are level on three points at the midway point of group play.

RSL's next CCL match is Wednesday at Arabe Unido, an intriguing match-up following the stalling tactics used by Panama club in the previous meeting.

Just like in that match against Arabe Unido last month, Real Salt Lake was awful in the opening minutes Wednesday night. There was no fluidity or rhythm in the opening 20 minutes, and RSL could've easily been down two or three goals with all the defensive miscues.

Instead, it only found itself trailing 1-0 in the early proceedings as Toronto only capitalized once on the early gifts. It was a moment Nat Borchers can't wait to forget. His eighth minute back pass to keeper Nick Rimando wasn't hit with nearly enough pace, and O'Brian White easily intercepted the ball creating a 2-on-0 breakaway with teammate Maicon Santos.

Rimando was helpless to stop Santos' tap-in shot on White's short pass as Toronto took the 1-0 lead.

Toronto had chances to pad the lead, and with each near miss the tension in Rio Tinto Stadium grew as fans sensed the home side was in real danger of losing.

Kyle Beckerman quickly came to the rescue.

In the 21st minute he headed home an Andy Williams corner kick to the level the score at 1-1.

Shortly before halftime Real Salt Lake made the most of another set piece as Jamison Olave headed a curling free kick from Williams just past Toronto's diving keeper at the far post for the 2-1 lead.

Toronto's backline tried an offside trap at the top of the box, but it failed miserably as five RSL players tried to latch onto the cross. Not surprisingly, Olave rose above them all for his first goal in CONCACAF Champions League play.