CCL Roundup: Real Salt Lake open campaign with win at Municipal
Real Salt Lake 1 -- CSD Municipal 0
Joao Plata scored the only goal of the game after two minutes to give the Claret-and-Cobalt three precious points in Guatemala City. Plata responded quickly after Municipal failed to clear Javier Morales' free kick from the right and squeezed his effort inside the near post. RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando pushed Carlos Ruiz's free kick onto the crossbar shortly before halftime to protect the advantage and then slid down to his right to thwart Ruiz again after the interval. Municipal created several chances after the break without mustering the required sharpness to procure an equalizer and stop RSL from climbing to the top of Group G after a rugged opening fixture.
Querétaro 2 -- San Francisco 0
The Liga MX debutants produced a pair of goals after the interval to register their first Champions League victory at Estadio Corregidora. The home fans booed their players off after a tepid first-half display, but Gallos Blancos responded after the break to ease the nerves. Emanuel Villa -- inserted in place of the injured Camilo Sanvezzo in the first half -- rounded off a fine move up the left with a simple back post head to open the scoring on the hour. Victor Milke confirmed Queretaro's place atop Group C with the second goal in the final quarter of an hour.
Santos Laguna 4 -- W Connection 0
The reigning Mexican champions opened their Champions League pursuit with a comfortable victory over the T&T Pro League side at Estadio Corona. Djaniny highlighted Santos' first-half superiority when he struck three minutes before the break. Alonso Escoboza added a second just after the hour. Djaniny extended the lead after 68 minutes when he pounced on some slack defending and tucked his effort around the goalkeeper. Luis Angel Mendoza slotted home the fourth in the 90th minute to send Santos to the top of Group A.
