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PISCATAWAY, N.J. — No U.S. internationals, no problem for Utah Royals FC.
Gunny Jonsdottir set up two goals, including the match-winner that came via an own goal, as the Utah Royals earned their first road win of the season, 2-1 at Sky Blue FC in the NWSL expansion club’s first-ever trip to Yurcak Field in New Jersey.
Diana Matheson scored her second goal of the season for Utah (3-2-5), marking the opening goal just three minutes into the match on an assist from Jonsdottir.
"Sometimes on the road you have to win ugly, and I felt that we did that," Utah coach Laura Harvey told team media after the match. "I don't think it was the prettiest game or the most efficient game we played with the ball. But sometimes that's how the game goes.
"The players dug in, they were really gritty, and they worked really hard to try and win the ball. It just wasn't always working out for us."
Shea Groom scored for Sky Blue, which fell to a league-worst 0-8-1 in a game it played without U.S. internationals Carli Lloyd and Savannah McCaskill. Groom equalized just seven minutes after Matheson's goal, redirecting a pass from Katie Johnson on the counter attack to put the match at even strength in the first 10 minutes.
Jonsdottir’s cross with five minutes remaining was redirected into the back of the net by Sky Blue defender Mandy Freeman. The defender placed the final touch on the cross as Utah forward Katie Stengel was racing to put the ball into the back of the net herself.
"I think they defended well, and did a good job," Jonsdottir said. "But we stuck to the plans that Laura gave us, and we did a good job."
Nicole Barnhart earned her first start of the season in goal, replacing U.S. call-up Abby Smith. Sydney Miramontez replaced teams captain Becky Sauerbrunn at center back, and former Sky Blue winger Taylor Lytle joined Stengel and Matheson at forward for the Royals.
"It was Taylor's old team, and I felt like it was a good opportunity for her," Harvey said. "After the defeat last week in Portland, it put a fire inside of us.
"We felt that the second half in Portland wasn't good enough for us."
They all count the same 🤷♀️ pic.twitter.com/5e9tyDcCxx
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) June 3, 2018
Next up:
Utah takes two weeks off for the FIFA international break. The Royals’ next match will be June 16 at North Carolina. The match, which will kick off at 5 p.m. MT, will be streamed live on KSL.com and the KSL TV app.
Sky Blue will play June 8 at Washington.
