Pro roundup: Real Salt Lake settles for tie with Columbus
Courtesy Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango slides after a cross during the game against Colorado at America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, March 9, 2024.Real Salt Lake (3-2-3, 12 points, 4th West) extended its unbeaten run to four consecutive games, despite a litany of missed chances in front of goal haunting the team into accepting a 0-0 home draw against Columbus at America First Field on Saturday.
Following road matches the next two weekends at Chicago and Philadelphia, RSL returns home on May 4 for a crucial showdown with long-time rival Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m., with tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
In a game the Claret-and-Cobalt mostly dominated, the team struggled to make its superiority count when it mattered most, failing to take its chances, forced to settle for merely a point.
In a combative and competitive match, chances were at a premium for the visitors, with a solid and organized defensive structure proving extremely difficult to break down. RSL, on the other hand, seemed to create chances at will and failed to secure maximum points from this encounter. Spurred on by its adoring fanbase, the hosts managed to create a barrage of clear-cut chances in a pulsating and entertaining match, but a lack of finishing meant the team failed to convert.
RSL’s best chance of the first half, and arguably the entire game, came in the 18th minute through a brilliant counter-pressing attacking sequence. Having won the ball back from the furthest Columbus defender back, attacker Andres Gomez found himself with loads of space and bearing down on goal with teammate Chicho Arango alongside, with only the goalkeeper to beat. Gómez’ squared ball lacked pace but found Chicho atop the six, but goalkeeper, Evan Bush recovered just in time to parry Chicho’s effort and deny the RSL captain the chance to open the scoring.
The draw brings the early 2024 RSL season record to 3-2-3 and 12 points, the fourth-best in a crowded West table. Next up for RSL is a trip to Chicago, Illinois to take on the Fire next weekend on Saturday, April 20th at historic Soldier Field. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. MT, with tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
Utah Royals lose to Orlando
Utah Royals FC (1-3-0, 3 pts, 12th in NWSL) fall 0-1 to Orlando Pride (1-0-3, 6 pts, 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.
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 27 at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/tickets/
Utah Warriors lose at Dallas
The Utah Warriors took a heartbreaking 22-20 loss to the Dallas Jackals on Friday in a match that literally came down to the final minute of play.
With Utah dominating for much of the second half, the Jackals found life in the final five minutes to score a try as time expired for the comeback win. All 15 players on Dallas’ side took part in a closing maul deep inside Utah territory, ultimately touching the ball just inside the try zone to take the 22-20 win.
“We defended the line-out very well tonight, but unfortunately, on that last one, we didn’t,” said Warriors coach Greg Cooper. “Crucial moments let us down…We just let them back into the game.”
Utah did secure a bonus point, however, by losing by less than seven points, but it came as tough consolation in a match Cooper and his team felt they should have won.
Utah drops to 2-0-4 on the season with the loss and will look to rebound a week from Sunday on the road versus the San Diego Legion.
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