Utah Royals FC 0, Chicago Red Stars 2
June 23, 2018; Bridgeview, Illinois; Toyota Park
Utah Royals FC (4-3-5, 17 points); Chicago Red Stars (4-3-7, 19 points)
Woman of the Match
Captain Sauerbrunn continues to lead the team in blocks, stopping multiple chances for the Chicago attack within the box. Often throwing her body in the way of a moving ball, DF Becky Sauerbrunn was steady in the backline and did a good job staying disciplined. She also provided good energy deep into the play, fighting until the final whistle of a tough game – making her the woman of the match. The URFC captain will now regroup as the team looks ahead to play against NWSL power-house, Seattle Reign FC. `
Telling Stat
Although Utah held the run of possession (55%), the most telling stat from this match was the amount of shots that Chicago was able to create – 16 total -- most of them in the second-half. The Red Stars also had six big chances on frame (compared to Utah’s three chances), of which two found the back of the net within a ten-minute period.
What You Missed
Utah Royals FC now leads the league in most players to play every single minute this season, with MF Desiree Scott, MF Gunny Jonsdottir, and DF Rachel Corsie fulfilling mainstay roles on the squad.
So, What:
This loss is the concluding match of URFC’s difficult road campaign, and may be the motivator the team needs to pick up the second-half of the season. The next two matches against Seattle (June 27), and Sky Blue (June 30), will be at Rio Tinto Stadium – offering a bit of relief from the wild travel schedule. Bagging wins at home will be crucial for Laura Harvey's squad as it eyes a play-off position.