Kiana Palacios and Mina Tanaka scored and the Utah Royals beat the Denver Summit 2-1 on Saturday night in the National Women’s Soccer League to push their unbeaten streak to nine games.
In other games, the Houston Dash beat visiting Angel City 2-1, and the North Carolina Courage topped Racing Louisville 2-1 on the road.
The Royals (7-2-2) joined the Portland Thorns at the top of the standings, with teams set to met next weekend in Portland.
Tanaka scored
in the 72nd minute off a penalty kick after Cloé Lacasse was fouled on the left edge of the box by Ayo Oke.
Palacios scored her first career NWSL goal in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a turnover by Eva Gaetino.
Denver (3-4-3) tied it minutes before halftime with Delanie Sheehan finding Yazmeen Ryan at the back post.
Maggie Graham scored in stoppage time to lift Houston past Angel City for the Dash’s first victory in 51 days.
Graham fired a shot from just outside the box after a series of one-touch passes up the middle of the field. Houston (4-5-2) ended a six-game winless streak.
Kat Radar put Houston on the board in the 17th minute. Angel City (4-5-1) tied it nine minutes later on Maiara Carolina Niehues’ penalty kick.
Houston was without goalkeeper Jane Campbell after she sustained a head injury Wednesday against San Diego. In her place, Caroline Delisle made her first career NWSL start.
Ashley Sanchez scored her seventh goal of the season, Evelyn Ijeh had her second in two games and North Carolina edge Racing Louisville FC for the 100th regular-season win in Courage history.
The Courage (4-3-3) have won two in a row.
Arin Wright scored in stoppage time for Louisville (2-7-1).
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
