Hopkins brace sinks Utah Royals as Kansas City claims crucial road win

SANDY — Haley Hopkins scored twice Saturday evening to lead the Kansas City Current to a 2-0 victory over the Utah Royals at America First Field, dealing a blow to Utah’s hopes of securing home-field advantage in the NWSL playoffs.

The defeat dropped the Royals into sixth place in the standings, just one point behind fourth-place Kansas City, with two regular-season matches remaining.

Utah controlled 57% of possession but was outshot 14-12, with just four of its attempts coming from inside the penalty area.

“I think if you take away the goals, we’re the better team,” defender Kate Del Fava said. “But unfortunately, that’s what counts, especially at this point in the season. Teams that finish and can execute are the teams that are gonna end up winning a championship, and we want that to be us.”

Hopkins strikes twice

Utah started brightly, pressing Kansas City into its defensive third and creating a flurry of opportunities in the 13th minute.

Nuria Rábano delivered a cross that pinballed around the penalty area, with Cece Delzer and Kiana Palacios both getting headers toward goal before Brecken Mozingo’s follow-up was blocked.

Eight minutes later, Kansas City made the Royals pay.

Vanessa DiBernardo drove a corner to the back post, where Hopkins rose above two defenders and headed the ball toward goal for her 10th goal of the season.

The goal followed a controversial sequence. Coenraets believed Kansas City committed an uncalled handball before the corner was awarded, but officials told him the play was no longer reviewable.

McGlynn caught the initial corner, but the referee had whistled Current defender Kayla Sharples for a foul before the kick, then allowed a retake. On the second attempt, Hopkins’ header appeared to strike her hand before crossing the line. The goal was allowed to stand, and Coenraets said he received no communication about a VAR review of the scoring play.

Kansas City nearly doubled its advantage in first-half stoppage time when Temwa Chawinga broke free behind the Royals defense. McGlynn charged off her line, forcing Chawinga to round her, but the forward somehow struck the crossbar with the goal at her mercy.

The Royals continued searching for an equalizer after halftime, but too often their attacks ended with speculative efforts from distance.

Their best opportunity came in the 67th minute. Palacios won possession, combined with substitute Jameese Joseph and raced into space before delivering a cross to an unmarked Delzer. Her header from close range drifted agonizingly wide.

Kansas City twice put the ball in the net late, only for both efforts to be ruled out for offside.

But in the first minute of stoppage time, Chawinga raced down the right channel and squared for Hopkins, who tapped into an open net to complete her brace and put the result beyond doubt.

Possession without penetration

“I think that we had a lot of good moments,” Royals defender Kayleigh Riehl said. “I think that we can be more ruthless in the box. We had chances. I think that we were settling some for long-distance shots, and I think that it’s an area that we can grow and be more ruthless. It’s the hardest part of the game, that final third.”

Coenraets explained that Kansas City’s attacking quality allows the Current to commit fewer players forward while maintaining a compact defensive structure.

“The art of Kansas City is they defend with six because they only have to attack with four,” Coenraets said.

Utah attempted to exploit the wide areas, particularly down the right through Paige Cronin, but couldn’t consistently turn those openings into dangerous chances.

“They’re predictable, but they’re good at it,” Coenraets said.

The Royals were without Mina Tanaka and Miyabi, who were both injured while on international duty, while several returning players required careful management of their minutes.

Cronin, who wore the captain’s armband on a night when the first 4,000 fans received pink scrunchies in recognition of her Pink Scrunchie Club and the team’s breast cancer awareness efforts, was initially expected to play approximately 60 minutes but stayed on until cramping forced her off in the 81st.

Two matches to make their case

Saturday’s defeat continued Kansas City’s dominance of the series, leaving Utah without a victory against the Current in six meetings.

Despite the result, Coenraets insisted he wasn’t worried, pointing to his team’s ability to execute its tactical plan despite having only one full day of preparation after players returned from international duty.

“We don’t have to be afraid of anything or anyone. It’s just being us,” Coenraets said.

Utah returns to America First Field on Friday, Oct. 23, to face Seattle Reign at 7:30 p.m. MT before concluding the regular season at Gotham FC on Nov. 1.

For Del Fava, fresh off her USWNT debut, the focus remains on what the Royals can still accomplish.

“It’s an honor to step out on the field every weekend, and I just wanna keep doing it, and hopefully with this team, make it to the playoffs and build something special.”