Chris Schuler bagged a first-half brace as Real Salt Lake thumped DC United 3-0 at the Rio Tinto Stadium this morning.

Joao Plata headed the hosts ahead on 10 minutes, reaching a Luke Mulholland cross to notch his 10th goal of the season.

Things got better for Real Salt Lake just two minutes later as Schuler bagged his first of the encounter.

United struggled to get to grips with the clash and soon found themselves three down midway through the half, as Schuler nodded home a Javier Morales corner.

Jeff Cassar's side went on to net five the last time that they hit three goals in the opening 45 minutes.

However, the Utah-based outfit would not emulate that five-goal haul this morning as Cassar's troops settled for three.