June 20, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release
Kansas City, Kansas (Wed.) – Real Salt Lake (10-2-7 / 37 points / 1st West) extended its historic unbeaten streak to 15 matches with a dramatic 4-3 road victory at Sporting Kansas City, surpassing the single-season franchise record established in 2010. RSL has now earned points in the Club’s last 10 matches away from America First Field, losing only the Feb. 21, 2024 opener at Miami en route to a 4-1-6 / 18-point road record. The win gives Manager Pablo Mastroeni his 50th victory across all competitions with RSL, the quickest to the half-century mark in the Club’s coaching history.
Watch / Listen to RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, AM Diego Luna and GK Gavin Beavers following 4-3 road victory over Sporting KC on Wed., June 19, 2024
Real Salt Lake came out flying for the midweek matchup, as All-Star hopeful and second-year phenom Emeka Eneli donned the Captain’s armband for the first time to become the youngest Captain in the Club’s 20-year-history. Despite the early energy, it would be RSL’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Beavers, in his fifth MLS start of the year, facing the first test of the match. With Sporting KC winning corners in the 9th and 10th minutes, Beavers was forced to come off his line at full extension to parry both dangerous crosses off trajectory and out of the box.
Despite the early danger, RSL would convert its first big chance of the game into an early 1-0 lead, as red-hot Andrés Gómez scored in the 14th minute. RSL was hounding Kansas City through the midfield when Braian Ojeda jumped a loose touch to intercept the ball and start a lightning-quick counter attack. Immediately feeding it to Diego Luna, the young winger raced forward with Anderson Julio off to his left and Gómez to his right, both making runs into the box. Dribbling left to move the defenders before playing a clinical through-ball to Gómez on the right, Gómez showed world-class pace as he ripped past two defenders deep into the box, needing only three touches before connecting perfectly with his right foot to send the ball soaring into the far post side netting.
Sporting KC nearly evened the match moments later as Ojeda made a challenge on Erik Thommy’s attempt in the box, the referee awarding a penalty. With SKC captain Johnny Russell taking the responsibility, he stepped up to the spot and sent a powerful shot low to the right side, Beavers perfectly reading Russell and…
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