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SANDY — Utah’s professional women's soccer team had the home venue.
It had the crowd, announced at 16,556 in Sandy.
It even had a one-player advantage, courtesy of a 42nd-minute red card.
All it needed was the goal.
Check.
After a trio of U.S. internationals called into camp ahead of this summer's Women's World Cup in France, Amy Rodriguez’s goal with just over six minutes left in regulation was the difference, and Utah Royals FC held on for a 1-0 victory against 10-man Chicago in a Friday night match at Rio Tinto Stadium.
"I could sense the air getting tight around the team," said Rodriguez, who scored her first goal of the season. "As the time was ticking, we knew it was tied and we needed a goal. But as a forward, I know to keep my cool — to keep playing through it, keep pushing. The last thing you want is to rush your finishes."
Second-half Erika Tymrak sub started the counter-attack after a scoreless 80-minute stalemate, feeding a through-ball to Gunny Jonsdottir on the wing, and Rodriguez needed just one touch to navigate the ball into the back of the net for the only score of the game.
Jonsdottir called it a bad cross. Rodriguez disagreed.
Either way, it was enough for the win.
"I just knew that Amy was going to get there — or I hoped so. I didn’t get off the best cross. But I knew she was going to get there," Jonsdottir said. "It was a bad cross, I’m not going to lie. But she did well."
Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart made three saves to earn the shutout, the third of the season for the Royals (3-0-0, 9 points) to continue the team's fast start and become the first in the NWSL to clinch three victories (North Carolina can follow suit Saturday afternoon against league-worst Sky Blue FC).
"Last year, I think we had nine points after 10 games or something — we just tied and tied," the Icelandic international said. "But starting off the season with three wins in a row and clean sheets, I think it’s very important.
"We also lost a couple of players, and it was good to step up and prove that we could win."
Utah out-shot the visiting Red Stars 7-4 in the first half, but didn’t register a shot on target until Lo'eau LaBonta's strike from the edge of the 18 just inside the 21st minute. But Barnhart made two of her saves in the first half and the Royals took a 0-0 stalemate into halftime.
42' Chicago's Katie Johnson was issued a straight red card on this challenge. #UTAvCHI || #URFCpic.twitter.com/9KRmxs3rGL
— Salt City FC (@saltcityfc) May 4, 2019
The most meaningful play of the half came three minutes before the halftime break when Chicago’s Katie Johnson received a straight red card after a challenge against Vero Boquete. The Red Stars winger protested, but the play involving an elbow and a head forced Chicago to play with 10 outfield players for the final 45 minutes.
Utah coach Laura Harvey stopped short of formally commenting on the red card, but she seemed incredulous about Farhad Dadkho's decision to go to his back pocket.
"I honestly didn't see it. I was shocked when he brought his red card out because I know Katie Johnson is not a malicious player," Harvey said. "But I honestly felt like Chicago was better when they had 10 players."
Still, the Red Stars took the game by the scruff in the second half, searching for a game-winning goal for much of the second half. Even as Barnhart stood her ground, the game’s possession seemed to fall in favor of Chicago.
But moments after Boquete sprung a free kick from 18 ½ yards away off the crossbar, the Royals were on the attack. Rodriguez scored the goal and Jonsdottir will earn the assist — on a "bad cross," she freely admits.
But Tymrak deserves the credit for the counter, pivoting at midfield and launching a through-ball to Jonsdottir on the wing, setting up Rodriguez’s one-touch game differential.
"That's Erika's greatest trait: recognizing space, getting into it, and being dynamic toward the back line — which makes them drop," Harvey said of her 75th-minute sub. "I think the more she keeps doing it, the more she’s influential, and the better it will be for us and for her.
"She's working really hard to change her game a little bit, to suit the way that we play, and I can’t credit her enough. Last week in Orlando, she was excellent — and I thought she did really well when she came on tonight."
Next up
Utah continues its run of three home games in four matches May 11 when it hosts the Houston Dash. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MDT on KSL.com.
