Utah Royals (photo by Jose Castellanos).
The Utah Royals welcomed the Portland Thorns in front of 8,446 fans during Week 5 of the 2018 season. The Royals got their first home point as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Utah forward Amy Rodriguez scored her first home goal, but fellow USWNT teammate Tobin Heath came on the field and scored the equalizer just 14 minutes later.
The Royals haven’t had a single victory this season and in the 53rd minute Rodriguez took the shot after she worked her way down the field and sent a shot to the left corner of the goal. Even with Thorns’ defender Meghan Klingenberg pulling back to help keeper Britt Eckerstrom, the ball was able to make its way past them both.
After scoring this goal, the Royals looked hopeful for their first win because they took an early second half lead. This goal was the first for Rodriguez since last year when she scored in the opening game with FC Kansas City, which was then her last game of the season due to her ACL tear on the pitch.
Heath came on in the 57th minute and her presence immediately changed the game. Although she had ankle surgery in the off-season and missed the first three matches of the season, she came back stronger against Utah then on her home turf.
(Photo by Diego G Diaz)
Utah worked their passing well to keep the ball away from the Thorns when Christine Sinclair put pressure and got a hold of it. She made a pass to Heath who then chipped the ball above goalkeeper Abby Smith, who had came out of the six yard box, making it to the back of the net for the equalizer.
“Getting that goal was awesome, but I really wanted to get another one,” Heath said. “I think the whole team did. Happy to do that, but definitely not satisfied with the tie.”
Although the Royals didn’t see their first win of the season, they made their first home point and will host for their next three matches.
SCORING SUMMARY:
UTA-Amy Rodriguez, 53’
POR-Tobin Heath, 67’
BOOKING SUMMARY:
POR-Margaret Pruce, yellow card, 36’
UTA- Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, yellow card, 49’
UTA-Desiree Scott, yellow card, 85’
UTAH ROYALS FC: #1-Abby Smith, #2-Rachel Corsie, #3-Rebecca Moros, #4-Becky Sauerbrunn, #5-Kelley O’Hara (#25-Brittany Ratcliffe, 80’), #8-Amy Rodriguez (#24-Katie Stengel, 56’), #10-Diana Matheson (#19-Katrina Gorry, 62’), #11-Desiree Scott, #17-Sydney Miramontez, #20-Elise Thornes, #23-Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir
Subs not used: #18-Nicole Barnhart, #6-Katie Bowen, #13-Brooke Elby, #15-Eryka Tymrak
PORTLAND THORNS: #2-Katherine Reynolds, #7-Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic (#17-Tobin Heath, 57’), #10-Lindsey Horan, #12-Christine Sinclair, #16-Emily Sonnet, #20-Kelli Hubly, #23-Margaret Pruce, #25-Meghan Klingenberg (#22-Ifeoma Onumonu, 65’), #26-Mallory Weber, #30-Celeste Boureille (#8-Andressa Cavalari Machry, 64’), #33-Britt Eckerstrom
Subs not used: #22-Elizabeth Ball, #15-Ellie Carpenter, #18-Adelaide Gay, #34-Tyler Lussi
TOTAL SHOTS: UTA 5-11 POR
SHOTS ON GOAL: UTA 1-3 POR
FOULS: UTA 6-8 POR
OFFSIDES: UTA 2-1 POR
CORNER KICKS: UTA 2-8 POR
SAVES: UTA 1-0 POR
Utah Royals
