Utah Royals Second Half Comeback Falls Short In Loss To San Diego Wave FC
Mar 22, 2025, 10:21 PM
(Photo courtesy of Utah Royals FC)
(Photo courtesy of Utah Royals FC)
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Utah Royals FC 3-2 loss to the San Diego Wave FC was a true tale of two halves.
Utah looked plain and simply outmatched through the first 45′. San Diego took advantage at every turn and went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
However, two scores within ten minutes from Claudia Zornoza and Mina Tanaka not only tied the game at 2-2, but also put all of the momentum in the hands of the road side.
This didnt last for long though as San Diego quickly scored after Utah’s equalizer and held on to their one-goal advantage to pick up their first win of the season.
Proud of our fight. We keep pushing. pic.twitter.com/POULPBWJuL
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 23, 2025
Utah Royals Fight Back But Come Up Short In San Diego
First Half
Utah and San Diego sat directly next to each other in the NWSL standings last season but the Wave still came away with two wins in the season series.
In both of those games, SCFC struck first and Utah was never able to claw its way back into the game.
A similar story unfolded in the first matchup between the clubs in 2025. It took just seven minutes for San Diego to find the back of the net.
Gia Corley saved the ball from going out of bounds in the corner before sending the ball across the front of the net. No Royals players were able to make a clear and María Sánchez punished them with a close-range score.
MADE BY GIA CORLEY 😤 pic.twitter.com/KBtwga6Z24
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 23, 2025
The first half was relatively slow-paced but there was no question who held the advantage.
San Diego got off seven shots in the first 45 compared to just one for Utah. In the 37th minute, the Wave’s final shot of the half broke through once again as Adriana Leon scored her first NWSL goal.
San Diego would take that lead into the halftime break with little contention from the Royals.
DRI OPENS HER WAVE FC ACCOUNT 🌊 pic.twitter.com/MA8FOUc0oe
— San Diego Wave FC (@sandiegowavefc) March 23, 2025
Second Half
The second half was a totally different story for Utah.
Three of the first four shot attempts of the half came off the foot of Royals players. They were able to pull one back in the 61st.
From a free kick, Zornoza sent an absolute missile inside the right post to drop the San Diego lead to one.
When Claudia stands over a free kick, you know what’s coming next 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bdIRlrcMLP
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 23, 2025
About 10 minutes later, they did it again.
With their confidence up, the ball was moving more freely and the club worked together as one as opposed to individuals attempting to make plays.
Tanaka was the recipient of an excellent through ball from Ally Sentnor and she placed it almost exactly where Zornoza did moments prior.
What a build up, what a pass, what a goal 🤩 pic.twitter.com/7TuFzsI4pA
— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) March 23, 2025
Now with momentum on their side and an even scoreline, it appeared to be anyones game in Southern California.
Unfortunately, that high was short-lived.
Just two minutes after the equalizer, Corley did it herself this time to put SDFC back out in front.
The Royals did all they could down the stretch to tie the game again but the attempts all fell short. Kate Del Fava was the only Royal with a real chance to do so but her header from the box missed to the right.
San Diego held on through seven minutes of stoppage time to pick up their first win of the season, 3-2.
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