Real Salt Lake  jumped out to a two-goal lead before the break and held on for dear life in the second half Wednesday night in Panama City, earning a 3-2 win over Árabe Unido in Group A of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Will Johnson scored a pair of goals and Álvaro Saborío added another as RSL overcame another early CCL deficit to earn the win, vaulting atop Group A with nine points through four matches, boasting two-point edge of second place Cruz Azul.

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Johnson’s goal in the 10th minute was a result of a sloppy giveaway by the hosts, and helped RSL make up for a stunning goal allowed just two minutes into the match. Árabe Unido’s Williams Aguilar beat RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando with a free kick from just outside the box for the hosts’ short-lived lead, marking the fourth time in as many CCL matches when RSL have allowed the opponent to score the first goal.

Saborío gave RSL the lead in the 35th minute with a snap header off a Nelson Gonzalez corner kick, and Johnson finished off a Saborío through pass just before the break to give RSL a 3-1 lead at the half.

That lead lasted just eight minutes into the second half, however, until Árabe Unido capitalized on some nervous defending by the MLS champs. RSL left back Tony Beltran was called for a penalty inside the area for a slight shove to Mario Angulo, and Angulo promptly buried the ensuing penalty kick past Rimando to cut the lead to 3-2.

RSL endured some tight calls and some chippy moments (striker Fabian Espíndola was yellow carded in the 59th minute and then given a second yellow and an ejection for dissent from the bench in the 87th), but leaned on Rimando and defender Jamison Olave just enough to get the win before returning to MLS league play on Saturday against Colorado.

RSL return to CCL action on Sept. 28 on the road against Toronto FC.

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