A second-half penalty from Joao Plata was enough to guide Real Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City in the MLS.

The visitors were the first team to threaten when Marcel de Jong lifted the ball in from the left and Roger Espinoza headed at goal, but his effort was saved by Jeff Attinella.

Real hit back with a good opportunity of their own when Plata latched on to the ball outside the box and drilled a left-footed strike towards the bottom corner, but Tim Melia made a good stop.

Salt Lake took the lead in the 34th minute when Javier Morales weaved his way through the Sporting defence before slotting an effort under Melia into the net.

The home side came close to doubling their lead just before the break as Abdoulie Mansally lifted the ball into the penalty area, but Plata's first-time strike clattered off the post.

In the second half, Kansas City drew level through an impressive strike from substitute Benny Feilhaber from distance as he curled an effort into the bottom corner.

Salt Lake almost retook the lead as Luke Mulholland raided forward down the right and cut the ball back across to Devon Sandoval, but the forward's effort crashed off the post.

Jacob Peterson could have handed the visitors the advantage as he latched on to alow cross from Krisztian Nemeth, but Attinella made a reaction stop to deny the striker.

The hosts were presented with the chance to go ahead when Olmes Garcia was brought down in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. Plata took the penalty and buried his strike past Melia.

Sporting pushed to get back into the game, but Attinella continued to be in inspired form as he made another good save to stop Peterson's close-range strike from finding the net.