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SANDY — This is what they came here for.
This is why Utah Royals FC was founded, why Laura Harvey came out of a self-imposed break from coaching, why Christen Press returned to the NWSL from Sweden, and why the most talent available at this summer’s Women’s World Cup in France chose to play professionally in the United States.
Not the 2-2 draw between the Royals and the visiting Portland Thorns, a draw that put the Thorns (6-2-5, 23 points) on top of the league for at least one day before North Carolina (6-2-4, 22 points) kicks off Sunday against the Chicago Red Stars. But the way that draw happened, the quality on the pitch, the return of the biggest stars in the women’s game, all playing on the same pitch, taking the same shots, making the same saves — that’s what Harvey focused on, even if she was a bit disappointed with a tie at home.
More of that, please.
The NWSL is the most competitive, most exciting and most dramatic, week in and week out, of any women’s soccer league in the world. And it should be, Harvey said; the world’s top players play here, including all 23 players that represented the world champion United States in France.
Those same stars are who the fans want to see, including the announced crowd of a shade under 16,000 that turned out Friday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
“I’m a huge fan of us not playing when the World Cup is on as much as we do, and this is one of the reasons why. This is what people want to see,” Harvey said. “This is the product that we love. This is what we turn up every day wanting to do. It’s nothing against the players who aren’t at the World Cup, but the players who aren’t at the World Cup love playing with these players, too.”
Outspoken in her opinions and unabashed in her commentary, Harvey has a point.
Friday night’s Royals (5-4-3, 18 points) were different than the Utah side of the past month. It was different than the team that went to New Jersey a week ago and suffered a late 1-0 loss to league-worst Sky Blue FC (2-7-2, 8 points).
That’s not a knock on the players who stayed back during the World Cup, who were tasked with keeping the league running while officials chose to play through much of the tournament. But there’s a difference in quality with the return of so many internationals — from the U.S. and elsewhere.
Even those non-international players will admit it. While players like Gunny Jonsdottir, Lo’eau LaBonta and Nicole Barnhart should be lauded for the shift they put in just to keep the team moving over the past 60 days, the Royals were visibly improved with the return of their sextet of internationals.
The crowd felt it too, and that crowd fed the players.
“We had a great group of Americans who traveled (to France), but it’s nothing like playing in front of your home crowd,” Press said. “But (Friday night) was special; I felt so much joy and pride playing in this stadium and for this team. I’m happy to be back.”
Part of that was the return of a trio of U.S. internationals like Press, Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara. Former Spain captain Vero Boquete also made her return to the Royals, as a second-half sub, after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Other internationals back in the lineup included Portland goalkeeper Adrianna Franch, forward Tobin Heath, and Lindsey Horan, who initially scored what looked like a sure match-winner with just a few minutes left in regulation (the goal was later changed to an own goal by Sauerbrunn by league officials).
It also may have been a goal that shouldn’t have counted, Harvey retorted.
“Their goal was offside. That’s why I was emotional,” said Harvey, who has significant history with Portland from five years as head coach of the Seattle Reign. “It hit Caitlin Foord’s heel, she’s 10 yards offside and then goes in, and that’s why I was emotional. It should’ve been offside.”
Even the final equalizer, a 90th-minute rocket that started with a long ball from O’Hara, happened because of the internationals. This time, it was Rachel Corsie — fresh off her spell as captain of Scotland’s maiden World Cup voyage — who finished the final marker, preserving a 2-2 draw and a point in the standings for the home side.
“If you look at the second half, we have more to give,” Jonsdottir said. “Just imagine how good we can be. If we believe in ourselves, give our best every game, then anything is possible.”
