SANDY, Utah (Saturday, October 17, 2026) – Utah Royals FC (14-10-4, 46 points, 5th NWSL) was unable to earn its first point against the Kansas City Current (14-9-5, 47 points, 4th NWSL) on Saturday, falling 2-0 in front of 10,809 fans at America First Field. With the win, Kansas City jumped Utah in the NWSL standings, with both teams still looking to clinch a spot in the playoffs next week.
Head Coach Jimmy Coenraets made one positional change and three personnel changes to Saturday’s starting XI, forced to rotate some key players after injuries sustained during the international break. Captain Paige Cronin entered in place of Miyabi to make her 100th NWSL start, while Ana Tejada returned from her red card suspension in place of Madison Hammond. In attack, Brecken Mozingo - who scored the late equalizer against Louisville - entered for the injured Mina Tanaka (hamstring), while Cece Delzer moved from her native right wing to central attacking midfield.
Saturday’s encounter got off to a quick start, with both teams creating quality chances early. In the 13th minute, Mozingo had a shot blocked after a chaotic scuffle in the box, and just three minutes later, two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga nearly put the visitors in front with a curling right-footed effort on a counter-attack. In the 21st minute, Kansas City got the opener, converting a corner kick with a header from Haley Hopkins for a 1-0 lead.
A goal down, Utah picked up the pace in search of an equalizer. Kansas City goalkeeper Lorena was up to the task in the first half, making three saves to preserve the visitor’s lead. She was forced to intervene twice in the closing moments of the half, stopping another shot from Mozingo as well as a long-range attempt from Tejada.
Just before the halftime whistle, Chawinga missed a clear attempt to put the Current up two heading into the break. After Kansas City stole the ball on a Utah corner, the two-time MVP darted down the field, finding herself one-on-one with Mandy McGlynn. The Malawi international took the ball around the keeper but was unable to finish on an open net, thundering the ball off the crossbar to keep the match 1-0 at half.
The Royals’ best chance of the game came in the 67th minute, fueled by second-half substitute Jameese Joseph. Joseph dribbled forward and found the run of Kiana Palacios down the right flank, who whipped in a perfect cross to Delzer. Utah’s number five made contact, but saw her header miss just wide of the left post. Minutes later, Joseph tested Lorena again, forcing a diving save with a left-footed effort from outside the box.
As the match entered its final moments, the Current began to take control in attack. Kansas City came close on two separate occasions, finding the back of the net twice, but both were called back for offside. The visitors finally doubled their lead in the 90+1st minute, as Chawinga used her speed to blow by the last defender before squaring the ball to Hopkins. Alone near the penalty spot, Kansas City’s striker finished with a right-footed strike that beat McGlynn for her second of the night. The Royals were unable to repeat the late magic seen against Louisville, and fell 2-0 on Saturday.
Utah Royals FC will return to America First Field on Friday, October 23, hosting Seattle Reign FC for its last NWSL home game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. MT, with tickets available for purchase here.
URFC Next Home Match: 10/23 @ America First Field
URFC takes on Seattle Reign at home! Secure your seats for an unforgettable match at America First Field.
UTA 0 : 2 KC
KC: Haley Hopkins (Vanessa DiBernardo) 21’: A corner taken by DiBernardo found Hopkins at the backpost, who rose above her defender to score the opener with an emphatic header.
KC: Haley Hopkins (Temwa Chawinga) 90+1’: After winning the ball high up the field, Kansas City found Chawinga 30 yards from goal. Chawinga used her pace to sprint by Kaleigh Riehl, squaring the ball into an open Hopkins who finished for her second of the night.
LINEUPS:
Utah Royals FC (4-3-3): Mandy McGlynn; Paige Cronin © (Tatumn Milazzo, 81’), Kate Del Fava, Kaleigh Riehl, Nuria Rabano; Ana Tejada (Madison Hammond, 86’), Narumi (Courtney Brown, 81’), Cece Delzer; Brecken Mozingo (Jameese Joseph, 62’), Kiana Palacios, Cloe Lacasse (Alexa Spaanstra, 86’)
Subs not used: Mia Justus, Kameron Simmonds, Dayana Pierre-Louis, Ali Swensen
Head Coach: Jimmy Coenraets
Kansas City Current (4-3-3): Lorena; Laney Rouse, Gabby Robinson, Kayla Sharples, Izzy Rodriguez; Lo LaBonta ©, Vanessa DiBernardo (Bayley Feist, 78’), Debinha (Croix Bethune, 65’); Michelle Cooper (Amelia White, 78’), Haley Hopkins, Temwa Chawinga
Subs not used: Marisa Jordan, Maëva Nyadjou, Katie Scott, Kolo Suliafu, Itala Gemelli, Penelope Hocking
Head Coach: Chris Armas
Stats Summary: UTA / KC
Possession: 57% / 43%
Shots: 12 / 14
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 3 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
UTA: Narumi (Yellow Card - 43’)
UTA: Ana Tejada (Yellow Card - 73’)
UTA: Courtney Brown (Yellow Card - 83’)
KC: Kayla Sharples (Yellow Card - 90+8’)
Photo Assets — Please Credit Utah Royals FC
