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HOUSTON — The Utah Royals are back in the playoff hunt.
Christen Press and Katie Stengel each scored a goal in the second half as Utah Royals FC rallied by the Houston Dash, 2-1 Sunday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium in the Lone Star State.
"It’s really big," Stengel told KSL.com after the match. "We really needed a win to get our feet back in the playoff run, and I think this win really helps us moving forward."
Nicole Barnhart improved to 2-0 on the road in goals for the Royals (6-6-7, 25 points), who vaulted in front of the Dash for sixth place in the league table with their first win since June 30.
Veronica Latsko scored in the first half for the Dash (6-8-5, 23 points). Houston earned the distinction of being the first team to take a lead over the Royals and lose in the Utah franchise’s inaugural season.
"We worked hard for it," Utah Royals coach Laura Harvey said after the match. "It’s huge; I felt in the first half, we played really, really well … we just couldn’t find that final pass and the final finish.
"In the second half, they made it harder for us to play. But the girls stuck with it, worked hard, and the moment we got the equalizer, there was just one winner."
Houston entered the match 0-10-1 all-time against teams coached by Harvey, with all but a win and a draw coming in her time with the Seattle Reign. But the Dash struck first, when Latsko’s header glanced off the glove of Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and inside the far post in the 41st minute.
Sofia Huerta set up the goal with a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box, and Latsko did the rest with her forehead en route to the Dash’s 1-0 halftime lead. It was Houston’s first shot on goal of the match.
Here's how @UtahRoyalsFC dashed past Houston on the road on a Sunday night: pic.twitter.com/ZHPyapIP3g
— KSL SportsBeat (@kslsports) August 6, 2018
Press equalized in the most cheeky fashion. The U.S. international who recently returned from the Tournament of Nations snuck up on Amber Brooks after the defender took a complacent pass out of the back from goalkeeper Jane Campbell, stole the ball and whipped a shot inside the near post to equalize in the 77th minute.
"We were a different team after that goal," Stengel said. "We finally got back in it, and then we were able to keep pressing and got that other goal.
"I think it shows a lot of character. We were down … but we showed how hard we were willing to work."
Stengel drove in the dagger five minutes later.
Utah’s leading goal scorer notched her fourth of the year, finishing off a pass from Erika Tymrak in the 83rd minute with a chip of Campbell that put the Royals up, 2-1 in the final moments.
Houston out-shot the Royals 16-9, but both teams put five shots on goal as the Royals proved more clinical in winning for just the second time on the road.
"The substitutes made a really big difference, coming on in this heat," Harvey said. "They kept the ball, moved the ball quickly at pace, and even on Christen's goal, it was the work Taylor (Lytle) and Steng did that really pushed them back."
NWSL notes
North Carolina clinched the 2018 NWSL regular-season title with a 2-1 win over Portland. The Courage (15-1-4) had long-ago clinched a playoff spot and secured the No. 1 seed in the four-team postseason with a month left to play in regulation.
Elsewhere in the NWSL, the Orlando Pride tied last-place Sky Blue FC 2-2.
Next up
Utah plays its second of three matches in seven days Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium against the Washington Spirit. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT on KSL.com and the KSL TV app.
The Royals will also host Seattle Reign FC at 1:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Aug. 11.
