Utah Royals FC scored four set-piece goals, a club record, in its last match at North Carolina Courage on Saturday, July 25 hoping to continue its positive momentum. The Washington Spirit, a top-three team in the NWSL offered the Royals a different challenge with USWNT star Trinity Rodman in the starting lineup who currently sits at a team-leading 12 goals. Utah Royals Head coach Jimmy Coenraets decided to start veteran defender Kaleigh Riehl in response, her first start following a calf injury.
Quotable:
“I think we had a clear two or three chances, like Kiana’s chance with her header,” Coenraets said about the performance. “I think, the same as today, what I will do from a coaching perspective is I will try to put us in the best position to win and compete.”
Game summary
An hour long weather delay didn’t stop the Utah crowd as the chants and cheers were louder than before the delay. The Washington Spirit opened the scoring as forward Paige Metayer made a commanding run down the right side before whipping in a dangerous cross through the six yard box where Trinity Rodman finished the service with a left footed tap in at the far post. URFC had a late opportunity in the first half to win a penalty when the club’s golden boot leader, Cloe Lacasse, went down after colliding with a Washington defender inside the penalty area but following a VAR review, the on-field decision of no penalty was upheld.
Utah Royals FC came out of the locker room strong, hungry to equalize. Defender Nuria Rabano crossed the ball in deep to the head of Kiana Palacios, whose header drifted wide of the post. Toward the middle of the second half, Mina Tanaka sent in a dangerous cross with her left foot, barely missing the outstretched foot of Cece Delzer. Near the end of regulation, forward Lara Prasnikar in her last-ditch effort saw her shot parried away by Spirit goalkeeper Sandy Maclver to end the match as she finished with four saves. URFC’s defensive unit logged a dominant second-half performance, holding Washington to just one shot the entire 45 minutes hoping to help fuel its offense to a comeback.
Up next
Utah Royals FC will face off against the Portland Thorns Sunday, Aug. 2 at America First Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MDT, with tickets available at rsl.com.
