The Utah Royals extended their unbeaten streak to nine games on Saturday and moved to the top of the NWSL standings with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Denver Summit FC.
Utah’s Mina Tanaka scored the decisive goal on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, and the Royals improved to 7-2-2 on the season, moving into a first-place tie with the Portland Thorns. Portland is set to visit the Kansas City Current on Sunday.
Utah’s Cloé Lacasse played a big part in the victory over the Denver expansion team, assisting on Utah’s first goal and drawing the penalty that led to the second.
Utah took a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute as Kiana Palacios scored her first NWSL goal off a pass from Lacasse. Palacios, the career scoring leader for Mexico’s club America with 90 goals, joined the Royals before this season.
Denver evened the score in the 45th minute with a goal in transition. Delanie Sheehan sent a long pass to Yazmeen Ryan, who drilled a shot past Utah goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn.
Tanaka scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute after Lacasse drew a foul from Colorado defender Ayo Oke just inside the 18-yard box. The foul call was upheld after a long break for a video review.
Denver goalkeeper Abby Smith got a hand on Tanaka’s penalty kick but couldn’t stop it.
“We’re pumped,” Lacasse said in a television interview after the game. “This was incredible. We were so excited just because the fans turned out.”
The Royals are scheduled to visit the Portland Thorns on Saturday, May 30 (2 p.m. MDT, ION), for their last game before the NWSL takes a 28-day break.
