May 18, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals News Release
CARY, North Carolina – Utah Royals (1-8-1, 4 pts, 14th NWSL) fell to another away defeat – its eighth defeat altogether of the season, and an eighth straight game without a win – in the club’s maiden NWSL campaign in an ultimately narrow 1-0 loss on the road against North Carolina Courage (5-5-0, 15 pts, 6th NWSL) at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Friday, May 17th, 2024.
The Royals came into the game buoyed by its 2-1 victory over the Courage in both sides’ previous encounter earlier in the season on March 22nd at America First Field, and looking to end its seven-game winless streak in the league.
The first half proved to be a tale of attack versus defense as the Courage completely dominated proceedings from the first whistle as the Royals struggled to contain its swashbuckling opponents.
NC Courage flew into an immediate bright start creating two clear-cut chances within the first three minutes in what offered a brief glimpse of what would come throughout the rest of the contest.
The Courage’s first chance in the game arrived with barely a minute on the clock when wingback, Ryan Williams was afforded space and time to run down the length of the right flank before drilling a low cross into the penalty box which was met by Haley Hopkins, but the striker’s finish lacked precision and direction, going wide off the goal.
Courage immediately created another clear chance barely a minute after the first. A well-worked move released midfielder, Manaka Matsukubo down the left wing who also ran down the flank before releasing an early low ball into the path of an unmarked Hopkins in the box, but once again, the striker failed to direct her shot properly on goal, missing the target and sending her effort wide.
Although NC Courage failed to capitalize on their early opportunities, the team’s approach and dominance signaled a clear statement of intent from the hosts. Courage continued to dominate proceedings, monopolizing possession and creating chance after chance as URFC struggled to contain its opponents particularly out wide where Courage continued to find space to attack and exploit the Royals’ defense by pushing up their wingbacks – Tyler Williams and Tyler Lussi – into higher and more advanced positions, and overloading the wide areas.
Courage yet again created another series of glorious chances to take the lead midway through the first half. Striker Ashley…