SANDY — Amongst other things, Real Salt Lake hoped international striker Alvaro Saborio would shine in big games when the club acquired him between the end of last season and the start of this one.
On the stage of three CONCACAF Champions League matches, Saborio has done precisely that.
And then some.
Exuding confidence and ability, Saborio — as has also been the case against MLS opponents — has quite simply been a handful for Champions League competition.
In a crucial home match against Toronto FC on Wednesday in the Champions League, Saborio scored the game-clinching goal midway through the second half via the penalty spot to help his club emerge with an eventual 4-1 come-from-behind victory inside Rio Tinto Stadium.
Saborio has now scored in all three Champions League matches and is second in the tournament with five goals.
"He's been really, really instrumental to our success in this tournament so far," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "He's also been instrumental to our success in the league. I feel like he's playing his best soccer right now and has been in the past couple of weeks.
"So we'll hope that he can continue this role for him because obviously it's important for us."
Indeed.
Saborio has scored eight league goals to lead RSL, and his production in the Champions League has been even higher, though his goal total of five in the competition is a long way off topping the Champions League scoring chart.
That honor currently goes to Cruz Azul's Javier Orozco, who torched RSL for four goals in one game last month. He leads with a whopping 10 goals, with Saborio in second with five.
As far as Saborio is concerned, though, the big thing Wednesday was simply helping his team get three points against Toronto.
"I think it was very important," he said of winning. "You have to win every game at home."
ANOTHER ONE GOES DOWN: RSL lost another key player to injury Wednesday, as fullback Robbie Russell left after sustaining a concussion in the 26th minute.
It doesn't appear he'll be available for RSL's match on Saturday against Chicago.
"He has a concussion and it seems like a pretty serious one," said Kreis. "The doc already told me at halftime that it was pretty serious and it would probably put him in great jeopardy for him to be available Saturday."
Tony Beltran seamlessly replaced Russell in RSL's lineup.
Attacking stars Javier Morales (quad strain) and Fabian Espindola (hamstring strain) were already out before Wednesday's game because of injuries.
Morales is suspended for Saturday's league game and is questionable for RSL's match next Wednesday against Arabe Unido, according to Kreis.
Espindola is questionable for Saturday, according to Kreis.
DEBUT SUCCESS: Striker Paulo Araujo Jr., who was recently acquired from USSF D-2 Pro League side Miami FC on a season-long loan, made his RSL debut on Wednesday and scored the fastest debut goal in club history as he found the net just six minutes after coming on the pitch.
Kreis was happy for what his new guy did before he got the goal.
"I was pleased with him because the first thing he does is win the ball off of their midfielder," said Kreis. "I appreciate things like that."
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART: Wednesday's affair was an arduous one for Real Salt Lake, as physical play ensued from start to finish.
Most notably, RSL captain Kyle Beckerman and Toronto substitute Mista were involved in a physical altercation in the 65th minute that resulted in a straight red card for Mista.
Beckerman initially collided with Mista, before Mista in turn kicked Beckerman in the legs and was subsequently sent off for the infraction.
YELLOW PERIL: Beckerman picked up a yellow card for dissent in the 49th minute Wednesday, bringing the list of RSL players in danger of receiving a one-game suspension in the CONCACAF Champions League for yellow-card accumulation up to seven.
Beckerman, Russell, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Andy Williams, Nelson Gonzalez and Robbie Findley all would miss one game if they pick up a yellow card in one of RSL's final three Champions League group games.
Players receive an automatic one-game suspension in the Champions League for picking up just two yellow cards during the group stage.
e-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com