Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- The Utah Royals lost 3-2 to San Diego after a late goal setback.
- Claudia Zornoza and Mina Tanaka scored in a second-half comeback attempt.
- Coach Jimmy Coenraets takes responsibility for the costly final goal mistake.
SAN DIEGO — Going down two goals on the road is no easy task to come back from in soccer, but the Utah Royals didn't blink.
Claudia Zornoza launched a second-half comeback with a goal off a free kick in the 61st minute and the team combined for a beautiful finish from Mina Tanaka to even the match at 2-2 with the San Diego Wave in the 72nd minute.
The tide can turn just as quickly in the other direction, however, as a short pass out of the box by goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn was stolen by a San Diego forward and buried for the final and game-winning goal in the 75th minute to send the Royals back to Utah without a point to show for the effort in a 3-2 loss.
"I think we need to manage that moment in the game slightly better," head coach Jimmy Coenraets said of the final goal. "We get a bit over-enthusiastic, and then we give it away again. But I think looking at Mandy, looking at the ball she gave, I think that's totally on me."
Coenraets said he's encouraged McGlynn to make passes out of the back despite the risk, with it usually resulting in a goal scored or a goal conceded. But that's a gamble he's willing to make.
Gia Corley with a momentum shifting goal for San Diego 😱
— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) March 23, 2025
Watching this on repeat 🔁 pic.twitter.com/t3VFVB2Rqu
Utah moves to one draw and one loss on the young season as the Royals continue the search for the opening win of the 2025 campaign. Despite last season's unfavorable record overall, the team got its first win in the second game of the season, putting this year's squad a bit behind the 8-ball.
It should be noted, however, that the 2024 team's second win came 13 games into the season, a drought this year's group certainly hopes to avoid.
Things don't get any easier with a trip to perennial contender Kansas City Current next week, but a homecoming on April 11 against the Portland Thorns after a week off to recover from the road trip could be just the spot to spur the Royals in the right direction.
On the health and rest front, Utah took a major step forward Saturday by bringing outside back Imani Dorsey back onto the pitch at the end of the match in San Diego for her first NWSL action in exactly one year after an Achilles injury.
Saturday also saw the NWSL debut of 15-year-old Utah native KK Ream for the Royals as the first teenager and youngest player to play for Utah.
