Utah Royals FC hosts Gotham FC for Fan Appreciation Night

HERRIMAN, Utah (Thursday, October 31, 2024) – Utah Royals FC (7-14-4, 25 pts, 10th NWSL) returns to America First Field to begin the 2024 Return of Royalty campaign with reigning NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC (16-4-5 , 53rd) complete points, 3rd NWSL). Both teams head into decider day in good form as the Royals have lost just three times since Matchday 15, the league's third-best loss in that time, behind only Gotham FC (1) and Orlando Pride (2).

URFC heads into Decision Day after a 1-1 draw at Angel City. Spaniards Claudia Zornoza In the 21st minute he scored the first goal with a free kick screamer. Standing over the ball, Zornoza walked towards the goal and aimed at the near post. Zornoza placed her shot perfectly over the wall and past the outstretched arms of DiDi Haračić, scoring her second goal for the Blue and Gold in nine appearances. Zornoza became the seventh Royals player to score from outside the box this season, making him the most goals in a single season in NWSL history.

ACFC's Sydney Leroux tied the game in the 56th minute with a volley from an Angel City corner. At the final whistle, URFC outshot ACFC (21/14) and had six more shots on goal (10/4), but were unable to get the winning goal over the line.

A quartet of Royals returned to the market earlier this week from international duty during the October FIFA window ahead of the NWSL regular season finale. Ana Tejada (Spain), Dana Föderer (Dutch U-23), Mandy Haught (United States) and Mina Tanaka (Japan).

Tejada and Haught return to the Wasatch Front with their first caps, Tejada coming on as a 75th-minute substitute in Spain's 1-1 draw in a friendly against Italy and Haught making his first appearance in the USA's 3-0 friendly win The USWNT entered the starting lineup and kept a clean sheet against Argentina last night. Foederer started both of the Netherlands' 1-1 friendly draws through the window and Tanaka started and scored in Japan's 4-0 friendly win over Korea Republic.

The Royals' last meeting with Gotham FC was on September 22nd in a 1-0 away loss. captain Paige Monaghan A home game for the Jersey native marked her 100th NWSL regular-season appearance, but Yazmeen Ryan spoiled the occasion with a third-minute goal that made the difference and sent URFC home empty-handed. URFC has been ahead in all encounters against Gotham FC and defeated Sky Blue in all three home games of URFC's inaugural edition.

WATCH LIVE on KMYU with Carla Haslam and JP Chunga :: Utah Royals FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC | America First Field | 7:00 p.m. MT | KMYU (2.2 over the air / 12 satellite / 643 Comcast HD)

WATCH LIVE on NWSL+ with Jenn Hildreth and Jill Loyden :: Utah Royals FC vs NJ/NY Gotham FC | America First Field | 7:30 p.m. MT

LISTEN on KSL Sports Radio (102.7 FM / 1160 AM) starting at 7:00 p.m. MT

Gotham FC suffered a 2-0 loss to Kansas City Current in the NWSLx Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup final last Friday. NJ/NY has performed exceptionally well in the NWSL regular season over the past two months, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak that stretched to September 1st, where they lost 2-0 to the NWSL Shield. 2024 winner Orlando Pride lost.

Support URFC in the final game of the 2024 NWSL season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets can be found at https://www.rsl.com/utahroyals/tickets/single.