Match Recap: Reign FC Earns Strong 4-1 Victory in Utah
Seattle Reign FC picked up a convincing 4-1 win on the road over the Utah Royals on Saturday behind a pair of first half goals from Ji and Maddie Dahlien and a brace from Emeri Adames after the break.
The Reign got off to a dream start at America First Field as Ji opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Lynn Biyendolo settled a throw in at her feet before flicking it over the defender’s head and lobbing a cross to the back post. Dahlien knocked the ball down toward the penalty spot, where Ji took a quick settling touch before firing her shot into the bottom left corner.
Ten minutes later, Seattle doubled their lead once again through the Dahlien-Ji connection. Adames clipped a pass into the middle of the field, where Biyendolo dummied it and let the ball run to Ji. The veteran midfielder then clipped a pass into space for Dahlien, who lifted the ball over the onrushing Mandy McGlynn to make it 2-0.
The Royals fired a warning shot in the 20th minute when Brecken Mozingo struck a curled effort from distance, but Claudia Dickey produced an athletic save to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The Reign responded with a pair of quality chances as Adames and Sally Menti both forced McGlynn into smart saves in the 22nd and 25th minutes, respectively.
Utah pulled one back in the 31st minute as Ally Sentnor uncorked a powerful shot from distance. Dickey did well to produce an acrobatic diving save and pushed the ball onto the post, but Bianca St-Georges pounced on the rebound and scored from close range.
It was a slow start to the second half as both teams looked to hit in transition but struggled to carve out clear chances.
In the 59th minute, Claudia Zornoza ripped a dipping effort from 30-yards out, but Dickey tracked the ball well and managed to hold the shot. The Reign immediately launched a counterattack that culminated in Madison Curry squaring the ball for Biyendolo in front of goal, but Kate Del Fava denied her a tap-in with a last-ditch sliding interception.
Seven minutes later, Seattle added a third to put the match out of reach. Ji drew in three Royals defenders before slipping a clever pass into the path of Adames, who curled her shot inside the far post to make it 3-1.
The Reign iced the match in second half stoppage time when substitute Nérilia Mondésir drew a foul inside the box. Following Video Review to award the PK, Adames stepped up and confidently dispatched her penalty to round out the scoring.
TAKEAWAYS
Road Warriors: Following Saturday’s victory, the Reign have picked up 7 out of a possible 9 points from their three-game road swing. Seattle enters the CBA break in 5th place in the league.
Rising Stars: Coming off call-ups to the U.S. Women’s U-23 and Senior National Teams, respectively, midfielders Menti and Sam Meza put in a stellar shift in Utah. Meza was a two-way force as she constantly disrupted the hosts and dictated the tempo when the Reign had possession. Making just her second start, Menti showcased a level of composure and technical proficiency beyond her years as she repeatedly put her attacking teammates in good spots with line-breaking passes. Add in 19-year-old Adames grabbing her third and fourth goals of the season and the future is looking extremely bright for the Reign.
Ji Masterclass: The South Korean international put on an attacking clinic on Saturday as she scored the opener and supplied the assist on Seattle’s second and third goals.
Up Next: The Reign will enjoy a few weeks off during the CBA break before facing Urawa Red Diamonds in an international friendly at Lumen Field on July 20. Get tickets to the match HERE.