Tanaka’s 2nd goal in 3 matches lifts Utah Royals to 1st home win

SANDY — Before Easter weekend, the Utah Royals had a good Friday at America First Field.

Mina Tanaka scored her second goal of the season on a second-half penalty kick as the Royals cruised to a 1-0 win over Chicago in front of a friendly home crowd.

The Japanese international two weeks removed from helping her national team to the women’s Asian Cup title scored her second goal in three matches for Utah (2-2-1, 7 points), which won back-to-back matches for the first time since winning three in a row last September.

Mia Justus made one save to earn her first shutout since a 2-0 win over Bay FC to end that three-match streak.

“We’re all just so excited to get Mia the shutout after she’s been throwing her body around and keeping us in games,” Royals defender Tatumn Milazzo said. “We’ve all been pushing for a shutout, and to get it today before the (international) break is great, and I think gives us good vibes going into the break.”

Justus made just one save on three shots faced in her second professional shutout, which is perhaps fitting after the 23-year-old goalkeeper out of Texas stood on her head with six total saves in a pair of results last week, 1-1 at Washington and a 2-1 win over NWSL newcomers Boston.

Tanaka and the attack did most of the heavy lifting.

“She’s a great player,” Utah midfielder Ana Tejada said of Tanaka. “I don’t think I have words to describe how good she is; she’s really smart off the ball, and that helps us move around the ball. She works really hard, she’s great on goal, and you can throw her a ball and bring her down to make it good anywhere.

“She gives you confidence with what she does with the ball. She just brings confidence to everyone else around here.”

GOAL LINE HEROICS from Chicago Stars' Kathrin Hendrich 😳 pic.twitter.com/Ac9OIqNTVI

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) April 4, 2026

The Royals controlled the offense through 45 minutes, but couldn’t break down the Stars’ stout defense.

Chicago goalkeeper Katie Atkinson made five saves in the first half, including punching Janni Thomsen’s 43rd-minute attempt over the bar to preserve the scoreless half.

Kathrin Hendrich cleared another attempt off the line, heading Dayana Pierre-Louis’ shot over the bar in the 30th minute as Utah out-shot the Stars 18-2 before the break, including six shots on goal.

The 18 shots in the first half tied for the most in Utah Royals FC history, and the most shots in a half since a 3-0 win over Seattle back on Oct. 13, 2024.

“We were very high on beating the first line of pressure, going wide, and the second you beat the first line something needs to happen beyond it,” said Utah coach Jimmy Coenraets, while particularly praising first-year midfielder Pierre-Louis. “That’s what we saw beyond it.

“I think we just rotated really well in the spaces that the opponent gave us.”

Utah tied its franchise record for the most shots — at 25, that is — with 25 minutes remaining, and held the Stars without a corner kick until the 67th minute.

Mina Tanaka converts the breakthrough

The one-way traffic caught up to Chicago in the 74th minute, when Stars defender Tessa Dellarose’s initially uncalled foul moments earlier against Cece Delzer was overturned on video review.

During the review, Utah captain Kate Del Fava gathered a group of teammates that included Delzer near the penalty spot, where it was decided that Tanaka should take the spot kick for the Royals’ first 1-0 win since converting a penalty goal almost exactly one year ago against  Chicago.

So Tanaka stepped right up and converted with ease, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead after 26 shots, nine shots on target, 13 corner kicks and 25 crosses.

Well deserved, too.

“Mina is an incredibly smart player, on the ball, off the ball,” Milazzo said. “I think she’s just in great spots all the time, which helps other midfielders get into position and helps forwards find the ball. She’s just an amazing player, and we’re really happy to have her back and playing great for us.”

First a break, then a road trip

After entering the international break with a three-match unbeaten run and 7 points, the Royals return to NWSL play Saturday, April 26 against Seattle Reign FC. Kickoff for the first of consecutive road matches is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT on Victory+.

Utah returns home Wednesday, May 6 to host the Houston Dash at 8 p.m. MT (CBS Sports Network).

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