On a windy afternoon for the club, Real Salt Lake played host to one of the ferocious teams in the league, Toronto FC. The Reds were looking to bounce back after a heart-wrenching loss at home in the MLS Cup final. RSL, on the other hand, was looking to build upon the chemistry that was built in the preseason having parted ways with two dynamic attackers - Javier Morales and Juan Manuel Martinez.
Toronto bared their fangs early when Chris Schuler misjudged a long throw-in lifted by the wind. The defender scuffed the clearance but held Jozy Altidore on-side.