In a pivotal matchup for the NWSL standings, Seattle Reign FC (5–3–5, 20 points) came to a 0–0 stalemate with Utah Royals FC (4–3–6, 18 points). Michelle Betos keyed the shutout for Seattle with six saves. Reign FC had the advantage in possession and total passes, but failed to find the net.
Diana Matheson opened the match with a screaming shot in the second minute. The ball went just over the outstretched arm of Michelle Betos and banged off the crossbar. Minutes later, Matheson sized up another shot from outside the box. This one soared high and above the net without requiring a save by Betos.
In the eighth minute, Christen Press made a run at Seattle’s net, looking for her first goal in a Utah kit. Betos darted off her line and punched the cross away before it could reach Press, effectively clearing the danger. Utah controlled most of the action for the first 15 minutes, challenging Seattle’s defense early on. Press nearly connected with Amy Rodriguez on a mid-distance cross, but Rodriguez’s slide was too short to get a foot on the ball. Betos made her first official save of the night in the 16th minute. The Seattle keeper dove low and to her right to glove Press’ shot, which Betos had lined up the entire way.
Betos made a nearly identical save in the 21st to deny Press once again. The newest member of Royals FC uncorked a left-footed shot, but Betos beat her to the post to keep the ball out. Later, Katrina Gorry added to the list of long-distance strikes from Utah. Her 23rd minute shot zoomed over Betos’ head and into the seats.
Seattle started to make its way forward as the match reached the half hour mark. The team built possession and patiently maneuvered up field, but the attack came to an end with a physical challenge between Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir and Morgan Andrews. The Seattle midfielder was whistled for the foul after the two collided in mid-air going for the ball.
Megan Rapinoe dazzled the Utah crowd in the 35th minute by beating Katie Bowen down the sideline with a creative move. Rapinoe dealt a cross toward the box, only for it to be headed away for a throw-in. Off the throw-in, the ball found Jodie Taylor for a shot from close range. Abby Smith was pressed into action for her first save of the evening, catching Taylor’s shot in the middle of the goal. Reign FC elected to play patient, measured soccer heading into the half. The team held its shape to keep Utah from manufacturing a real chance.
The home team finished the half with a counter-attack off a Seattle advancement. Rapinoe swung a cross for the back post that went into a hoard of defenders. When the ball was headed away, Utah started toward goal. Press got the ball on her feet, made her way around Theresa Nielsen, but Megan Oyster was there to cover, booting the ball to safety. This brought the teams to halftime tied at zero.
Reign FC came out for the second half with Alyssa Kleiner replacing Morgan Andrews. The first scoring opportunity of either team’s second half arose in the 52nd minute. With Seattle applying heat on the ball, Oyster moved forward to enhance the pressure. Utah got behind her and briefly pushed the pace, but Amy Rodriguez’s linking pass in the final third went incomplete. Betos took the pass to signal the end of Utah’s movement. Steph Catley’s tackle in the 59th minute later earned the first yellow card of the match.
Things slowed down a bit in the second half, with both offenses going slightly stagnant. After a Jónsdóttir header missed the mark in the 60th minute, each side sank into some defensive play for the next ten minutes. When Betos deflected a cross in the 65th minute, Allie Long was there in her defensive midfield spot to keep any Utah attackers from getting to the rebound. Rapinoe had shots in the 66th and 68th minute, with the latter coming from at least 40 yards out, but neither one had their desired effect of putting Seattle on the board.
From there, each team began utilizing its bench. Katie Stengel replaced Matheson in the 68th, followed by Bev Yanez entering for Nahomi Kawasumi in the 71st. One of Reign FC’s most menacing chances came from Alyssa Kleiner and Rapinoe in the 79th minute.
Kleiner used her body to hold off the Utah defense, then slid the ball for Rapinoe at the top of the box. Her one-touch shot was just a bit off, missing the frame and leaving Smith unbothered.
Vlatko Andonovski used Seattle’s last substitution in the 84th minute. Jasmyne Spencer left the sideline and took the place of Jodie Taylor at her forward position. Looking for a goal, Spencer quickly got into the box to receive a cross. Yanez curled a beautiful searching ball in, but Spencer was mere inches away from getting her head to it.
The match ended with Michelle Betos turning in two more masterful saves. Her 89th minute stop kept Christen Press off the score sheet, as did her 91st minute save. Betos got in perfect position to stop Press’ shot, and then scrambled to keep it from crossing the goal line after making the initial save. The final whistle sounded moments after that, ending the match at 0–0.
Utah managed 19 shots, with six of them landing on target. Seattle put three of their seven shots on frame and held 53.9% of possession. Keeping Royals FC from scoring gave Seattle its fourth shutout in the last five matches.
Seattle returns home for its next match, renewing its fierce rivalry with Portland Thorns FC. The rivalry match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Saturday, June 30. Tickets for the Cascadia showdown are available at www.reignfc.com/tickets.
