It’s been two weeks since the last Royals played last and tonight they return to Rio Tinto Stadium to face Sky Blue FC, here’s what you need to know ahead of the match:
1. Utah’s last match was June 1 at the now first-place Washington Spirit. The Royals went into the match holding first place but after losing 2-0 they now sit in third, with a record of 4-2-1. Amy Rodriguez still leads the team with four goals while Vero leads the team in assists at two. With the loss to Washington, Sky Blue and North Carolina Courage are the only two teams the Royals have never lost to. The Royals are 3-1-0 at home in 2019.
2. In 2018 the Royals were 2-0-1 against Sky Blue with a 2-1 win, 3-1 win, and 2-2 draw. Saturday’s match will be the first of three in 2019 between Utah and Sky Blue, the second taking place on in New Jersey on July 12 and the third back at Rio Tinto on August 7. The Royals are still missing Desiree Scott (Canada), Katie Bowen (New Zealand), Rachel Corsie (Scotland), Kelley O’Hara (USA), Becky Sauerbrunn (USA), and Christen Press (USA) to the 2019 Women’s World Cup. Sky Blue has three players at the World Cup: Estelle Johnson (Cameroon), Kailen Sheridan (Canada), and Carli Lloyd (USA).
3. Sky Blue sit in eighth place in the NWSL and have yet to win a match this season with an overall record of 5-2-0 and a home record of 0-3-1. Sky Blue hasn’t played a match since their May 25 loss against Portland Thorns. Raquel Rodriguez leads Sky Blue with two goals and one assist. Earlier this week Sky Blue announced MF Elizabeth Eddy has been traded to Sky Blue from North Carolina in exchange for FW McKenzie Meehan. Meehan was drafted by Sky Blue in 2017 while Eddy is in her fifth NWSL season.
Our coverage of Utah Royals vs Sky Blue FC begins on Saturday, June 15 at 8 PM on ESPN700.
