Sandy • Real Salt Lake needed only one goal to win its home opener Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but it was mired in a bit of controversy.
Corey Baird forced a penalty in the 22nd minute when he received a pass and appeared to be hit by a Vancouver defender. On at least two replay angles, it looked like Baird just dove to the ground without actually receiving contact from the defender.
The win pushed RSL’s total to four points in the Western Conference standings, tying it, for the moment, with FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, who Real tied last week in the season opener.