Collin Samuel made his first Toronto FC goal a memorable one, converting a penalty kick in the 79th minute for the first road win in franchise history.

Samuel was pulled down in the box by Real Salt Lake defender Jean-Martial Kipre and proceeded to beat keeper Nick Rimando high to the right side of the net for the final goal in a 2-1 game.

Toronto's Jeff Cunningham (left) is held back by teammate Maurice Edu after being fouled in the first half.
(Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press)

Samuel, from Trinidad and Tobago, was signed in late June by coach Mo Johnston shortly after he finished his contract with Dundee United of the Scottish Premier League.

Jeff Cunningham had put Toronto (5-7-2) ahead midway through the first before Alecko Eskandarian tied the match for Salt Lake just before half. Those two players were traded for each other in late May.

Toronto is now 1-4-2 on the road. With the win the club moved out of the Eastern Conference basement ahead of the Chicago Fire, losers Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Toronto will play the fourth of a six-game road trip Saturday in Chicago.

FC endured a nervous moment late in the game when Jamie Watson of Salt Lake lobbed a shot over reserve keeper Srdan Djekanovic that hit the crossbar.

Djekanovic was subbing for Sam Reynolds, who played well before injuring his right leg with about five minutes remaining in the game.

Salt Lake (1-6-6) was looking for consecutive wins after enduring a 15-game winless streak that dated back to last September.

Real had a pair of chances to open the scoring early on. Impressive rookie Robbie Findley hit the post, while Carey Talley drilled a shot that Reynolds tipped over the bar.

The home side had five corner kicks within the first 12 minutes, but it was the visitors who found the mark first, in the 19th minute.

Cunningham took a head ball from Danny Dichio and crossed into the box, beating Rimando with a low shot to the right corner of the net.

It was Cunningham's sixth goal of the season and the 96th of his MLS career. His career total trails only three players — current Real coach Jason Kreis and Jaime Moreno (108 each), and Ante Razov (102).

Salt Lake got the equalizer just before the end of the first.

Chris Pozniak hauled down former teammate Eskandarian in the box to incur a penalty shot and a yellow card.

Eskandarian drilled the ball into the right side of the net.

Early in the second, Samuel's bid to regain the lead for Toronto was steered wide by Rimando.

Eskandarian had a chance for a second goal in the 68th minute, but shot at Reynolds.

Adu elsewhere at U-20

Salt Lake, in last place in the West, has scored a league-worst 12 goals. 

Salt Lake's most famous player, Freddy Adu, is competing for the U.S. in the under-20 World Cup in Canada. Adu scored three goals Tuesday as the Americans romped over Poland, 6-1.

Toronto's Andrea Lombardo is playing for Canada at the same tournament, while FC defender Marvell Wynne is on the U.S. roster at the Copa America tournament in Venezuela.

Defender Tyrone Marshall made his debut for FC. Acquired in a June trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Marshall first had to serve a three-game suspension for a hard tackle in a June 9 game against Dallas.

With files from the Associated Press