Sandy, U.T– The Utah Royals secured their third straight 1-0 win of the season against the Chicago Red Stars. Forward Amy Rodriguez scored a late goal that put the Royals in first place, currently the only team in the league with a 3-0-0 record.
Within the first several minutes of the match, the home team made their mark on Chicago’s side of the field. Amy Rodriguez slid for the ball on a cross from Katie Bowen but came up just short of reaching the ball.
The two teams clashed again near the net and the Red Stars almost saw an early score. Sam Kerr made a run with the ball and took a right footed shot on Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. Luckily for Utah, Barnhart’s calculated her position perfectly, lingering on the six-yard line to block Kerr’s shot.
Five minutes before the first half ended, Chicago midfielder Katlyn Johnson was issued a red card for violent conduct during a challenge on a header with Vero Boquete, which left the Red Stars with 10 players on the pitch.
Both teams created quality opportunities on goal, but up until the half, the score remained at a standstill.
Vero Boquete Giadans worked a play on Chicago’s defense to give Utah another shot on goal, but defender Sarah Gorden headed the ball out and with the help of her back-line, Chicago cleared the ball from the initial play.
Kerr saw another run on goal, but this time, with the Royals defense putting the pressure on she was forced to take the shot from the side of the post. Barnhart came out to easily block the shot once again.
In the 83’ minute, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir slid past Chicago’s defense to make the pass to Rodriguez, whose first touch hit the back of the net. With 10 more minutes on the clock, the Royals maintained their lead and marked their third 1-0 win of the season.
Rodriguez’s goal gave the Royals three more points, which currently puts them in first place. The Royals are the first team to overtake the North Carolina Courage in the standings so far.
Utah will host their next match against the Houston Dash on Saturday, May 11 at 3:30pm ET.
SCORING SUMMARY:
UTA-Amy Rodriguez, 84’ (Assisted by: Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir)
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Katlyn Johnson, 42’ red card
CHI-Nikki Stanton, 66’ yellow card
UTA-Michelle Maemone, 78’ yellow card
CHI-Sam Kerr, 80’ yellow card
UTAH ROYALS: #1-Nicole Barnhart, #19-Michelle Maemone ( #46-Meghan Cox, 90+4’), #16-Samantha Johnson, #2-Rachel Corsie, #6-Katie Bowen, #11-Desiree Scott, #9-Lo’eau Labonta (#7-Mandy Laddish, 62’), #21-Veronica Boquete Giadans, #66-Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir, #24-Katie Stendel (#15-Erika Tymrak, 75’), #8-Amy Rodriguez
Subs not used: #47-Alexandra Kimball, #1-Abby Smith, #14-Gaby Vincent
CHICAGO RED STARS: #21-Emily Boyd, #3-Arin Wright, #14-Sarah Gorden, #5-Kathleen Naughton (#23-Brooke Elby, 87’), #6-Casey Short, #33-Katlyn Johnson, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #10-Vanessa Dibernardo ( #2-Nikki Stanton, 64’), #4-Alyssa Mautz (#7-Michelle Vasconcelos, 67’), #20-Sam Kerr, #12-Yuki Nagasato
Subs not used: #32-Zoey Goralski, #16-Alison Jahansouz, #15-Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Morales, #28-Kayla Sharples
TOTAL SHOTS: UTA 14-8 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: UTA 4-3 CHI
FOULS: UTA 6-12 CHI
OFFSIDES: UTA 4-3 CHI
Chicago Red Stars
Utah Royals
