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KANSAS CITY — The Utah Royals were riding high after back-to-back wins over the last two weeks but ran into a less forgiving opponent Saturday in Kansas City.
The third-place Current came into the match leading the NWSL in goals, with Golden Boot leader Temwa Chawinga at the head of the spear.
The Royals were able to hold Kansas City scoreless in the first half and even led 4-3 in shots on target, but it didn't take long into the second half for the law of averages to take effect.
The Current turned one well-defended Utah attack into a quick counter; and in a matter of seconds, Chawinga was alone at the front of the pack with a toe-tap finish to lead 1-0 after 47 minutes.
That's Temwa Chawinga's EIGHTH consecutive match with a goal! pic.twitter.com/f8UE8D7zIt
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) September 8, 2024
"We knew that their front line is dangerous, and I think that we knew that we had to be on it, and we had to be focused," defender Kaleigh Riehl said. "Obviously, frustrating to come out in the second half and give up a goal right away in an area that we knew that they were dangerous."
The goal gave Chawinga a league-best 15 goals on the season and got the team up to 44 total goals on the season for an average of 2.2 goals per game.
The Royals, on the other hand, were shut out for the first time in NWSL play since June 29 and remain in a tight battle with Houston and San Diego to try and stay out of last place in the standings.
Utah returns home next week to take on the San Diego Wave — currently a point above the Royals in the standings — on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. MDT.
"My wish for next week is just like every week, and that's to go out and win," interim head coach Jimmy Coenrates said. "I don't want to lead a team just to fall back in and make sure we don't concede ... we also want to score. Hopefully we can turn the luck and we can make a few goals."
