Utah Royals FC concedes late goal, falls to OL Reign

OL Reign player Celia Jimenez Delgado, left, and the Utah Royals’ Mallory Weber compete for the ball in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. The Reign won 1-0. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

HERRIMAN — In its first game of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Challenge Cup, Utah Royals FC used a late flurry of goals to come away with a point.

On Wednesday, it was on the other end of late scoring, as a Bethany Balcer header in the opening moments of stoppage time lifted OL Reign to the 1-0 win at Zions Bank Stadium.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

OL Reign goalie Michelle Betos stops Utah Royals player Taylor Leach (24) from scoring during a 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup game at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. The OL Reign won 1-0.

The late breakthrough for the Reign came on a day in which both teams struggled to get much going, especially in the first half. Things opened up more in the second, and the Reign were especially lethal in the closing minutes.

It appeared URFC would be able to stave off the onslaught until Balcer snuck through and connected on a cross from Yuka Momiki.

This story will be updated.

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