SANDY, Utah (Friday, April 12, 2024) - Utah Royals FC (1-3-0, 3pts,12th in NWSL) fall 0-1 to Orlando Pride (1-0-3, 6pts, 5th in NWSL) in the first America First Field doubleheader weekend of the season.
Tactically the Royals came out similarly to games prior with a few faces in different places. Brecken Mozingo joined the starting XI for the first time on the right wing, moving captain Page Monaghan to the ten.
URFC came out of the gate with possession attacking early earning a corner in the 8’ and a shot on goal by striker Hannah Betfort thanks to a ball won during a press in the final third from left back Madison Pogarch. Orlando quickly flipped the script, attacking in the 14’ that would eventually be cleared by defender Kaleigh Riehl, followed by corners in the 15’ and 19’ deflected out for goal kicks and another crossing attack cleared by defender Kate Del Fava.
Following a failed Royals attack Orlando hit the counter attack, Pogarch made a tackle clipping Orlando attacker earning herself a spot in the books with a cautionary card. Both sides continued to put pressure on the opposing side for the remainder of the half with Mozingo and Monaghan putting shots on goal in the 32’ and 44’ but were easily saved by Pride keeper Anna Moorhouse. Orlando put two more shots just wide in the 28’ and 37’ and one on target in the 45’ that was pushed wide by Royals keeper Mandy Haught in a diving save effort.
The half would end in a 0-0 stalemate with Orlando holding a slight advantage in possession (50.4/49.6), shots (7/3), corners (6/1) and saves (3/1).
Both sides would start the second half the same way they lined up at kickoff. Orlando came out firing shots in the 46’ and 54’ appearing no threat. Still sitting at 0-0, Orlando brought world class 10 Marta off of the bench in the 62’ with URFC bringing Zoe Burns off the bench for her pro debut to sub out Monaghan.
Marta’s appearance was quickly noticed as Orlando put a shot on goal in the 67’ saved with a kicksave by Haught cleared by defender Dana Foederer with Orlando maintaining possession. Orlando built up an attack into the final third sending a cross from the left side of the 18 across, slipping through the middle and finding Marta who fired a high curl off of the far post an in to give the Pride a 1-0 lead in the 68’.
On the brink of defeat head coach Amy Rodriguez trotted out a three-man sub compiled of three BYU alumni consisting of Mikayla Cluff, Cameron Tucker, and Michele Vasconcelos in the 84’.
Shortly after the substitution the Royals had flipped the momentum attacking in the final third for the majority of the 90 and 9’ of added time. Two corners and a shot on goal from Ally Sentnor was not enough to force an equalizer with the Orlando Pride taking 3 points home from Salt Lake City.
The Royals hit the road and take on Racing Louisville before returning home to face off against the Houston Dash on April 27th at 5:30 M.T. Tickets are available at https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/tickets/
UTA 0 : 1 ORL
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
ORL: Marta 68th Minute (Kerry Abello): Orlando maintained possession off a Royals clearance, built up into the final third, Kerry Abello fired a ball across the box slipping past Royals center backs to Marta. Marta fired a high curling shot off the far post and in.
LINEUPS:
Utah Royals (4-2-3-1): Mandy Haught; Olivia Griffitts, Kate Del Fava, Kaleigh Riehl, Madison Pogarch; Agnes Nyberg (Mikayla Cluff, 85), Dana Foederer, Paige Monaghan © (Zoe Burns, 64); Brecken Mozingo (Cameron Tucker, 84) , Ally Sentnor, Hannah Betfort (Michele Vasconcelos, 84)
Subs not used: Lauren Flynn, Addisyn Merrick, Frankie Tagliagerri, Emily Gray, Cristina Roque
Orlando Pride (4-2-2): Anna Moorhouse; Bri Martinez, Emily Sams, Kylie Strom ©, Kerry Abello; Summer Yates (Ally Lemos, 84) Morgan Gautrat, Angelina, Adriana (Marta, 62); Julie Doyle (Haley McCutcheon, 71), Ally Watt (Mariana Larroquette, 83)
Subs not used: McKinley Crone, Carrie Lawrence, Celia, Evelina Duljan, Amanda Allen,
Stats Summary: UTA / ORL
Possession: 50.2 / 49.8
Shots: 5 / 14
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 3 / 10
Fouls: 11 / 14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Yellow (Madison Pogarch, 26’) 11 Total Fouls
ORL: Yellow (Kerry Abello, 71’), Yellow (Haley McCutcheon 90’+9’) 14 Total Fouls
