Both Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals faced tough competition this weekend but found ways to come out with victories.

The Utah Royals (1-1-0) banished the painful memories of its NWSL opening day home defeat with a determined 2-1 home victory against North Carolina Courage at America First Field on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Kate Del Fava netted the first Royals goal of the new expansion era, and Ally Sentnor scored a breathtaking solo effort to cancel out Ashley Sanchez’s equalizer and hand URFC its first win of its inaugural season.

After a good start, Utah was rewarded in 15th minute when Kate Del Fava rose highest to head home a cross from Paige Monaghan from a corner to establish a Royals lead.

The Royals seemed to struggle to assert themselves on their opponents in the aftermath of its opener, and were punished in the 26th minute when a ricocheted ball in the box from a low cross across the face of goal fell to Ashley Sanchez who finished with aplomb to draw NC Courage level.

Utah fans wouldn’t have to wait too long after, however, for their teams second goal, with the goal arriving just four minutes later through a truly breathtaking piece of play from Ally Sentnor.

Having received the ball near the halfway line, the 20-year-old embarked on a dazzling multi-yard dribble before unleashing a fierce left footed strike into the top left corner to put the home team back in front.

In a tightly contested game, NC courage were subsequently awarded two penalties when Royals players, Agnes Nyberg and Addisyn Merrick, were judged to have fouled their opponents in the box.

However, Royals goalkeeper Mandy Haught twice stood tall to deny Malia Berkley of NC Courage from the spot, putting her off for the first attempt which rattled the post, and outrightly saving the second attempt to help the Royals hold on for the win.

The win puts the early 2024 Utah Royals season record at 1-1-0 ahead of the team’s next NWSL game against Washington Spirit on March 31, 2024, at Audi Field. Kickoff is at 11:00am MT, with tickets available at https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/tickets.

Real Salt Lake (2-2-1, 7 pts, 5th West MLS) completed a 2-1 comeback victory at Vancouver on Saturday with a pair of second-half goals in the Club’s first meeting against former captain Damir Kreilach.

Two RSL players making their first MLS starts — teenager Fidel Barajas and former Greek youth international Alex Katranis — led the way with two assists and the game-winning goal, respectively.

The game opened with RSL’s first touches in the attacking third coming in the form of a one-two between 17-year-old Fidel Barajas on the wing and Anderson Julio up top, both new ideas to Salt Lake’s attacking formation. Despite dominating the possession and pace of play throughout the entirety of the first 45 with scintillating midfield play and a rabid high press, concrete scoring chances were hard to come by for RSL.

Against the run of play, Vancouver broke the tie in the 33rd minute. The chance appeared as Vancouver leapt down the left side with a ball from Pedro Vite to Ryan Gauld who, holding up play as his teammates formed in the middle, transferred possession to White.

Timing his run perfectly, Kreliach received the ball at his feet as he snuck behind the RSL defensive line, collecting his first goal against his former club with a clinical finish over the left shoulder of MacMath. Changing up the trend, Kreilach previously had seven goals in nine games for RSL against Vancouver.

Looking for chances with unrelenting pressure at every corner of the pitch, Salt Lake broke through for the equalizer in the 70th minute.

Arango controlled the ball at his feet in the middle of the park, gradually making progress as his teammates swirled up the pitch before finding Barajas as he surged up the left side.

Receiving the ball in stride, he cut through Vancouver defenders while keeping his head up, allowing him to find his striker in the middle of the box and play a beautiful ball to the feet of Julio, who slotted the equalizer just inside the right post.

Maintaining the pressure, even with the equalizer fresh in their pocket, Salt Lake converted their momentum into a lead with a 76th minute goal.

Arango possessed the ball on the right side, surveying the pitch before switching the play across to Barajas deep on the left side of the box. Controlling the ball with a masterful touch, Barajas played a regressive ball to Katranis, also in his first RSL start, on the left corner of the box who curled a beautiful one-time strike over the head of Vancouver’s Takaoka and into the back of the net.

Despite a barrage of late-game pressure from Vancouver, the lead held for Salt Lake as it secured the three points in the Club’s only scheduled trip to BC Place this season.

RSL heads back to America First Field next weekend for a home showdown with St. Louis CITY SC in the return leg of the teams’ 1-1 draw on Feb. 24 at CITY Park. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 30, with tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.

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