Saborio makes sure Real Salt Lake tops Vancouver

Associated Press Sports

updated 12:32 a.m. ET July 28, 2012

SANDY, Utah (AP) - Alvaro Saborio scored two more goals to push Real Salt Lake within a point of the MLS lead.

Saborio scored in both halves in Real Salt Lake's 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Friday night, giving him six of the team's seven goals in the last four games.

"He's so important for our team," RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "It's not only the goals that he scores, it's the other stuff he does. When he scores, it's big time for us."

Salt Lake improved to 13-7-3 with its third straight home victory to move within a point of Western Conference rival San Jose for the best record in the league.

"He's so important for our team," RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "It's not only the goals that he scores, it's the other stuff he does. When he scores, it's big time for us."

Darren Mattocks scored for Vancouver (9-7-7), winless in five of its last six matches.

"There's still time for us to make sure we're in the right spot," Vancouver defender Jay DeMerit said. "That's the ultimate goal for us as a team. If we keep doing what we're doing, we'll get there. But, again, it comes down to us in making sure it happens."

Saborio opened the scoring the 34th minute on a penalty kick that he slotted inside the left post. The penalty kick came after Jay DeMerit committed a hard foul on Beckerman in the box in the 33rd minute and was shown a yellow card.

Mattocks tied it in the 52nd minute. Camilo put a ball behind the RSL defenders and Mattocks beat them to it. Goalkeeper Rimando came off his line to stop Mattocks on the right side of the area, but the Vancouver player slipped around Rimando and fired the ball inside the left post.

Barry Robson nearly put Vancouver ahead a minute later, but his shot ricocheted off the post.

Saborio struck again in the 58th minute. Javier Morales sent a cross from the right flank to Saborio at the upper left corner of the 6-yard box, and he jumped and headed the ball home.

"I'm pleased to see Sabo scoring goals because, for a long time, he was doing everything and he was getting very unfortunate (results)," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "It's good he's in a good run and we'll try to ride it as long as possible."

Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon was shown a red card when he committed a handball infraction outside the area in the 76th minute. Cannon will miss the Whitecaps' next game as a result.

Vancouver threw just about every player forward during long stretches of the second half and forced RSL to deal with several dangerous defensive situations.

"That's our bread and butter on this team," RSL defender Nat Borchers said. "When we stick to that, and we stay together as a unit defensively, we always have good results."

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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