Utah Royals Stun San Diego Wave to Reach First NWSL Semifinal
Utah Royals are in the NWSL semifinals for the first time in their history after a 1-0 win over San Diego Wave on Friday. The seventh-seeded Royals beat the second-seeded Wave at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, in a playoff quarter-final. It was Utah's first playoff win.
Kiana Palacios scored the only goal in the 30th minute, finishing a cross from Cloé Lacasse. A cross is a pass played from the flank into the penalty area. Utah then held on for the rest of the match. Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made four saves, and the win gave her a sixth clean sheet of the season, meaning her team conceded no goals.
San Diego had far more of the play. They kept the ball 62 per cent of the time, against 38 per cent for Utah, and took 16 shots to Utah's eight. Five of their shots were on target, against two for the Royals. None of them went in. San Diego had been unbeaten in seven matches going into the game, and they have now lost four playoff matches in a row.
Utah finished the regular season seventh with a 14-11-5 record and 47 points. San Diego were second, on 18-8-4 and 58 points. The NWSL, the top women's professional league in the United States, gives three points for a win and one for a draw.
The other quarter-final went the way of the higher seed. Kansas City Current, the fourth seed, beat fifth-seeded Angel City 1-0 after extra time, the additional period played when a knockout match is level after 90 minutes. Michelle Cooper scored the winning penalty four minutes into that period. The award came after Kayla Sharples went down near the goal line following contact from Angelina Anderson and Ary Borges.
Anderson had kept Angel City in the game during normal time, making five saves. Kansas City also had a strong season at home, finishing the regular season unbeaten there, the only team in the NWSL to manage that.
Both winners now move on to the semifinals. Utah will be playing in that round for the first time, and Kansas City will be looking to reach it for the first time since their home record drew attention across the league.
