Real Salt Lake have returned to the top of the MLS Western Conference with a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps at BC Place.

The only goal of the game came in the ninth minute when Lovel Palmer supplied a perfect delivery for Devon Sandoval to slam home a header.

Tom Heinemann had the chance to reply almost immediately, but could not find the target from inside the box.

David Ousted was called upon on a number of occasions to prevent the visitors from stretching their lead in the second half, although it was the post that came to his rescue after he was beaten by Joao Plata in the last minute.

The result means that the Whitecaps stay four points off fifth-placed Colorado Rapids.