Having secured its first win of its inaugural campaign last weekend at home against North Carolina Courage, the Royals traveled for its first away game of the season seeking a positive result, ultimately undone by a minute period midway through the first half featuring a dangerous and clinical Spirit effort. Andi Sullivan then stepped up and duly dispatched the spot kick with a powerful right-footed effort to the right side of the goal past Royals GK Mandy Haught , establishing the lead for the hosts.
Later in the first half, a lengthy review involving a Foederer play at midfield resulted in a yellow card, avoiding a potential red for serious foul play with a tackle on Sullivan.
URFC continued to push uphill to establish consistency in the contest, punished with a second goal less than 10 minutes after the first. At the start of the second half, visiting Utah withstood a barrage of Spirit attacks, but slowly and steadily gained composure, pulling a goal back in the 71st minute through a piece of brilliance by rookie sensation Ally Sentnor.
The Royals upped the ante in the aftermath of its goal in desperate search of an all-important equalizer, but was ultimately unable to penetrate a determined Spirit defense for a second time, succumbing to a narrow one-goal loss in its maiden road voyage. The loss puts the early Utah Royals season record at ahead of the international break.
Andi Sullivan stepped up and dispatched the spot kick with a powerful right-footed effort past Royals GK Mandy Haught for the early lead.
