By: Jay Kostal
Utah Royals FC wins its first playoff match in club history 1-0 away at Snapdragon Stadium against second seeded San Diego Wave. Mexican forward, Kiana Palacios, scored the game winning goal in the 30th minute as the Royals advanced to the next round.
Royals Clean Sheet Behind Five Saves from McGlynn
The match started with the Wave on the front foot as San Diego built up through the right side before Gia Corley was able to get the cross into the six-yard box to a wide open header for Melanie Barcenas. Royals goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made an incredible early reaction save to deny the home team an early lead. McGlynn was forced into making another tremendous save in the ninth minute, using a strong left hand to keep the ball from finding the back of the net. She ended the first half by making a difficult save with a right hand to push the ball over the crossbar after a threatening-looking cross that was potentially dropping into the net.
The best chance in the second half came off a corner kick from San Diego that saw the ball drop to the feet of Ludmila inside the penalty area for a shot that forced McGlynn into making a diving save to her right. With less than 15 minutes to go in regular time, the Wave threatened to equalize through a run from Corley down the left side of the pitch who sent in a mishit cross that forced McGlynn into a diving save to keep the ball out of the net.
McGlynn wasn’t the only player to make important blocks from multiple different players who put their bodies on the line to contribute to the win. The first block came after strong build-up play from San Diego that resulted in chaos inside the penalty area with both the Royals and the Wave scrambling to win possession of the ball. Three-time ironwoman Kate Del Fava headed the first attempt at a cross off out to the penalty spot before Utah’s captain, Paige Cronin positioned herself on the goal line to make a goal saving block to keep the game level.
In the second half, San Diego captain, Kenza Dali nearly found the back of the net if it weren’t for Miyabi running back to make a key sliding block to deny the French midfielder from equalizing. The match ended with McGlynn clutching the ball after putting up an incredible performance, making a total of five saves in the match enroute to securing the first ever postseason clean sheet in club history.
Relive the First Postseason Goal in Club History
The game-winning goal started with Jameese Joseph passing the ball out wide to Cloé Lacasse who drove the ball down the left side of the pitch before crossing it back into the penalty area to Mexican international Kiana Palacios. Palacios unleashed a strong left footed shot through the legs of Kristen McNabb to give the Royals its first 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. The goal ended the Royals 301-minute scoring drought as Utah scored its first ever postseason goal.
The former Club América attacker has had an impressive debut season with eight goal contributions, netting four times and recording four assists. Palacios recorded her first two goals in back-to-back matches against Denver Summit and Portland Thorns as she helped the Royals extend its club record ten-game unbeaten run.
Advancing to the semifinals for the first time, Utah Royals FC will travel to take on the victor of the quarterfinal matchup between Portland Thorns FC and the Washington Spirit next weekend.
