Amy Rodriguez Scores Equalizer in the 94th Minute to Complete Comeback Draw; URFC Playoff Hopes Kept Alive as They Take on Washington Spirit on August 22
PISCATAWAY, New Jersey (Saturday, August 18, 2018) – Utah Royals FC (7-7-8, 29 points) tied Sky Blue FC with the last kick of the game Saturday night at Yurcak field, reversing a 0-2 halftime deficit, and earning a critical point towards keeping their 2018 playoff hopes alive. After conceding an early goal in each half, Taylor Lyle provided URFC with a much needed spark, forcing a New Jersey own goal midway through the second half. Amy Rodriguez completed the comeback with a dramatic stoppage time goal.
Sky Blue FC opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a goal by Katie Johnson. After the break, Johnson extended New Jersey’s lead with her second goal of the game in the 48th minute. After a half hour weather delay, URFC returned to the pitch with more intensity and urgency.
Although Sky Blue remained dangerous throughout the rest of the half, URFC’s attacking pressure was relentless, causing a Sky Blue own goal in the 58th minute. URFC pushed on for the equalizer, which finally came in the 94th minute after a Gunny Jonsdottir cross into the box bounced off of two Sky Blue defenders and Katie Stengel poked the ball to Christen Press. After trying to lose her mark, Pressleft the ball for Amy Rodriguez, who hit a powerful, one-time strike into the top left corner of the goal.
UP NEXT: URFC will be looking to keep their playoff aspirations alive when they face the Washington Spirit Wednesday, August 22, at 5:30 p.m. MT. When the two teams met at Rio Tinto Stadium just last week, a Katie Stengel goal gave URFC all three points.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
NJ: FW Katie Johnson, 14’ – After a tussle at the top of the box MF Raquel Rodriguez pushed a pass through to FW Katie Johnson who shot the ball from the center of the box into the bottom right corner.
NJ: FW Katie Johnson, 48’ – FW Katie Johnson got her brace with a powerful left footed shot from outside the box into the top left corner of the net.
UTA: DF Dominique Richardson (OG), 58’ – Sky Blue DF Dominique Richardson deflected a URFC pass into her own goal.
UTA: Amy Rodriguez, 94’ - After being set up by a pass from FW Christen Press, FW Amy Rodriguez blasts a shot from outside the box into the top left corner of the goal.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
UTA: GK Nicole Barnhart, 72’ – GK Nicole Barnhart blocks a powerful shot from outside the box to keep Utah in the game.
