Utah Royals in their first match up against the Chicago Red Stars (photo by Don Mac Gregor).
Sandy, U.T– The Utah Royals concluded the final week of the NWSL season, coming back after being scored on first, for a 2-1 win over the Chicago Red Stars. This broke Chicago’s seven-game winning streak and the Royals wrapped up their first season in fifth place with a 9-7-8 record.
Chicago forward Sam Kerr gave the Red Stars a strong lead in the first half and scored her 16th goal of the season. After she received a pass from midfielder Arin Gilliland, Kerr headed the ball in. The 24-year-old Australian forward was one goal away from beating her 17-goal record from last season.
Utah returned to the pitch ready to make a comeback for their last home match. In the 46th minute, their options looked hopeful off a corner when Taylor Lytle sent the ball right to defender Rachel Corsie, but her quick left-footed shot went too high over the crossbar.
Although the equalizer was missed by Cosrie, forward Amy Rodriguez followed through just ten minutes later and scored the equalizer. Katie Bowen sent the ball from outside the top of the box to Rodriguez and sent the ball to the net, which hit the left crossbar and bounced to the back of the net.
The Royals continued in their success as Katie Stengel scored in the 64th minute. Lytle did it again with her service when she sent the ball to the middle from her left side and Stengel came in with the header to score the game-winning goal.
Despite those two goals that made their way past Chicago goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, she recorded five saves for the night. One of her most significant saves took place in the 58th minute off a shot from Stengel. Stengel took a strong shot at the penalty mark, but Naeher was quickly on it and deflected the shot from extending Utah’s lead.
Chicago ended their regular season in fourth place with a 9-5-10 record and still has a chance to win it all, as they advance to the playoffs.
At Rio Tinto Stadium, 11,851 fans joined the Royals for their last season home game and players expressed their gratitude for the support of the newest NWSL team.
“I truly believe that this club is going places … Jump on this train, because it’s going somewhere,” stated Utah Royals head coach Laura Harvey.
The Chicago Red Stars advance on and will compete against the North Carolina Courage on Sunday, Sept. 16.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Sam Kerr, 39’
UTA-Amy Rodriguez, 55’
UTA-Katie Stengel, 64’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
CHI-Arin Gilliland, 17’
CHI-Nikki Stanton, 25’
UTAH ROYALS FC: #18-Nicole Barnhart, #3-Rebecca Moros, #4-Becky Sauerbrunn, #2-Rachel Corsie, #6-Katie Bowen, #23-Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, #11-Desiree Scott, #5-Kelley O’Hara (#12-Taylor Lytle, 46’), #24-Katie Stengel, #21-Christen Press (#15-Eryka Tymrak, 85’), #8-Amy Rodriguez (#9-Lo’eau Labonta, 79’)
Subs not used: #19-Katrina Gorry, #16-Samantha Johnson, #10-Diana Matheson, #1-Abby Smith
CHICAGO RED STARS: #1-Alyssa Naeher, #3-Arin Gilliland, #14-Sarah Gorden, #5-Kathleen Naughton, #23-Brooke Elby (#13-Morgan Brian, 67’), #15-Michele Vasconcelos, #22-Rosie White (#24-Danielle Colaprico, 75’), #2-Nikki Stanton (#19-Summer Green, 75’), #4-Alyssa Mautz, #20-Sam Kerr, #12-Yuki Nagasato
Subs not used: #21-Emily Boyd, #8-Julie Ertz, #25-Erin Yenney
TOTAL SHOTS: UTA 18-14 CHI
SHOTS ON GOAL: UTA 7-8 CHI
FOULS: UTA 9-8 CHI
OFFSIDES: UTA 1-4 CHI
CORNER KICKS: UTA 4-7 CHI
Utah Royals
