Jordan Allen’s first goal in Major League Soccer proved to be the difference as Real Salt Lake came out on top against Toronto FC, 2-1 victors in a nervy ending at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Real Salt Lake completed it’s first three-point effort of the season after earning two draws to open this years campaign (1-0-2).

Both clubs came into the contest missing several key players due to international duty and it certainly showed. Toronto (1-2-0), without USA internationals Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, failed to get a foot hold in the Real Salt Lake half early on.

RSL, however, were with the services of Kyle Beckerman, after the midfielder did not receive a call up to Jurgen Klinsmann’s side.

In a back and forth first half, RSL broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Javier Morales served it on a plate back post to Luke Mulholland, who just needed to redirect it first time past TFC keeper Joe Bendik.

With two of their more influential players unavailable, TFC looked to the experience of midfielder Benoit Cheyrou and big summer accusation Sebastian Giovinco to dig them out of the hole.

The visitors came out in the second half in search of the equalizer, and the pressure mounted on the home side. Toronto found the back of the net at the half-way point of the second half, however it was called back after a foul on centre back Nick Hagglund was given.

A swirling 77th minute free kick from Giovinco almost found the back of the net, as RSL keeper Jeff Attinella came up big for his side.

After the team from up North upped the pressure, manager Greg Vanney sensed an opportunity as he made a couple substitutions, sending on attacking reinforcements Jackson and Bright Dike. 

The decision payed off immediately as the two players connected with two minutes remaining to level things up.

Late drama was to follow, however. Again Morales sent in a ball back post with seconds remaining from the original 90, and it found a teammate once again as Allen was all alone to finish it past Bendik and hand RSL all three points.

Allen said he “blacked out” for half a second after he scored, a fitting end for the Real Salt Lake Arizona Academy product.

Vanney described his team’s last few minutes as “a mental lapse.”

“We shut off for a second (after we scored) and that's what happens,” Toronto striker Robbie Findley explained.

Toronto have become renowned for their late game collapses after a 2014 season that saw the team slip up late on several occasions. 

As for the Western Conference semi-finalists Real Salt Lake, a big three points for a club trying to repeat last years success.