Utah Royals FC 2–1 North Carolina Courage, NWSL Matchday 23

Utah Royals FC v North Carolina Courage

Utah Royals FC4th 45 pts

C. Lacasse 17′
C. Delzer 65′

2

2–1

Full time

Sun 27 Sep

Expected goals: Utah Royals FC 0.73, North Carolina Courage 1.44

North Carolina Courage9th 39 pts

A. Sanchez 37′ pen

1

Sun 27 Sep, 7:00 pm EDT America First Field NWSL 2026, Matchday 23

The match story

Ashley Sanchez portrait — Courtesy North Carolina Courage

NWSL News

Ashley Sanchez returns as a scorer, and a link for others

Sanchez’s Courage season has brought more frequent shooting. Her return against Spain also showed the value of moving the ball on.

17 October 2026

Key moments

17′Goal C. Lacasse (Utah Royals FC)1–0
37′Penalty goal A. Sanchez (North Carolina Courage)1–1
65′Goal C. Delzer (Utah Royals FC)2–1

Top performers

Utah Royals

C. DelzerMUTAshirt 51G2SH
C. LacasseMUTAshirt 241G1SH
M. MoriyaDUTAshirt 220G2SH

North Carolina Courage

A. SanchezFNCshirt 21G5SH
F. RauchDNCshirt 110G1SH
G. PaulFNCshirt 230G1SH

Three per club, chosen from the match record: goals, then shots.

What it means

Utah Royals FC

4th▲2 from 6th

In the playoff places, 6 points above North Carolina Courage, with four to play.

North Carolina Courage

9thNo change

Outside the playoff places, 1 point behind Seattle Reign FC in the last playoff place, with four to play.

Season series

Matchday 14 Sat 25 Jul

North Carolina Courage1

Utah Royals FC4

Matchday 23 Sun 27 Sep

Utah Royals FC2

North Carolina Courage1

Utah Royals FC took both meetings, 6–2 on aggregate.

Team stats

UTA NC

Expected goals: Utah Royals FC: 0.73; North Carolina Courage: 1.44
Possession: Utah Royals FC: 49%; North Carolina Courage: 51%
Shots: Utah Royals FC: 7; North Carolina Courage: 11
Corners: Utah Royals FC: 2; North Carolina Courage: 4

NWSL table 2026

Standings →

NWSL table
#	Club	P	GD	Pts
1	Gotham FC	26	+14	54
2	San Diego Wave FC	26	+11	48
3	Washington Spirit	26	+12	46
4	Utah Royals FC	26	+9	45
5	Portland Thorns FC	26	+8	43
6	Angel City FC	26	+16	42
7	Kansas City Current	26	+6	41
8	Seattle Reign FC	26	+2	40
9	North Carolina Courage	26	+10	39

After this result

By the numbers

Utah Royals FC have 5 points from last 5 and are out of form. 1.0 a match, against 1.6 all season. NWSL average 1.4.

Utah Royals FC have gone 4 without a win. Last win: 2–1 v North Carolina Courage, 27 September.

Every recorded action

Match events are not available right now.

Lineups

Utah Royals FCFormation 4-2-3-1

Utah Royals FC, 4-2-3-1, each line from right to left. Goalkeeper: 1 M. McGlynn. Line 1: 22 M. Moriya, 8 K. Del Fava, 18 K. Riehl, 14 N. Rábano. Line 2: 99 M. Hammond, 10 N. Miura. Line 3: 5 C. Delzer, 11 M. Tanaka, 24 C. Lacasse. Line 4: 21 K. Palacios.

Utah Royals FC lineup: 11 starters, then 4 substitutes who came on, then the team, with minutes, goals, assists and expected goals for this match
#	Player	Min	G	A	xG
1	M. McGlynn	90	0	0	0.00
22	M. Moriya	90	0	1	0.09
14	N. Rábano	90	0	0	0.00
10	N. Miura	90	0	0	0.00
8	K. Del Fava	90	0	0	0.00
18	K. Riehl	90	0	0	0.00
5	C. Delzer, off at 90+1′	90	1	0	0.33
99	M. Hammond, off at 84′	84	0	0	0.00
21	K. Palacios, off at 62′	62	0	0	0.11
11	M. Tanaka	90	0	1	0.06
24	C. Lacasse, off at 78′	78	1	0	0.13
Substitutes
3	J. Joseph, on at 62′	28	0	0	0.00
13	B. Mozingo, on at 78′	12	0	0	0.00
15	D. Pierre-Louis, on at 84′	6	0	0	0.00
30	A. Spaanstra, on at 90+1′	1	0	0	0.00
Team			2	2	0.73

Unused: T. Milazzo, K. Simmonds, C. Brown, M. Justus, A. Swensen

All player stats

Utah Royals FC lineup: 10 outfield starters, then 9 substitutes, then the team, with every figure for this match
#	Player	Min	G	A	xG	Sh	SOT	CC	Pass %	Tkl	Int
22	M. Moriya	90	0	1	0.09	2	0	1	70%	1	4
14	N. Rábano	90	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	62%	3	4
10	N. Miura	90	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	84%	2	2
8	K. Del Fava	90	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	79%	2	2
18	K. Riehl	90	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	93%	0	1
5	C. Delzer, off at 90+1′	90	1	0	0.33	2	1	0	58%	2	1
99	M. Hammond, off at 84′	84	0	0	0.00	0	0	1	81%	5	0
21	K. Palacios, off at 62′	62	0	0	0.11	1	0	0	78%	0	1
11	M. Tanaka	90	0	1	0.06	1	0	1	80%	2	0
24	C. Lacasse, off at 78′	78	1	0	0.13	1	1	0	64%	2	0
Substitutes
2	T. Milazzo	–
3	J. Joseph, on at 62′	28	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	100%	0	0
6	K. Simmonds	–
13	B. Mozingo, on at 78′	12	0	0	0.00	0	0	1	40%	0	1
15	D. Pierre-Louis, on at 84′	6	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	40%	0	2
16	C. Brown	–
23	M. Justus	–
30	A. Spaanstra, on at 90+1′	1	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	0%	0	0
71	A. Swensen	–
Team			2	2	0.73	7	2	4	73%	19	18

Utah Royals FC goalkeeper
#	Goalkeeper	Min	Saves	SOT faced	Save %	GA	Claims
1	M. McGlynn	90	6	7	86%	1	3

North Carolina CourageFormation 4-3-3

North Carolina Courage, 4-3-3, each line from right to left. Goalkeeper: 1 K. Sheridan. Line 1: 13 R. Williams, 12 N. Staude, 18 U. Shiragaki, 11 F. Rauch. Line 2: 16 R. Jackson, 20 S. Koyama, 19 E. Parkinson. Line 3: 23 G. Paul, 10 E. Ijeh, 2 A. Sanchez.

North Carolina Courage lineup: 11 starters, then 6 substitutes who came on, then the team, with minutes, goals, assists and expected goals for this match
#	Player	Min	G	A	xG
1	K. Sheridan	90	0	0	0.00
13	R. Williams	90	0	0	0.11
11	F. Rauch, off at 85′	85	0	0	0.04
20	S. Koyama	90	0	0	0.01
12	N. Staude, off at 88′	88	0	0	0.00
18	U. Shiragaki	90	0	0	0.00
16	R. Jackson, off at 62′	62	0	0	0.13
19	E. Parkinson, off at 75′	75	0	0	0.00
10	E. Ijeh, off at 85′	85	0	0	0.00
23	G. Paul, off at 75′	75	0	0	0.04
2	A. Sanchez	90	1	0	1.08
Substitutes
8	C. Okafor, on at 88′	2	0	0	0.00
14	C. Wickenheiser, on at 75′	15	0	0	0.00
17	D. Weatherholt, on at 85′	5	0	0	0.00
21	Bia, on at 75′	15	0	0	0.00
26	V. Bøe Risa, on at 62′	28	0	0	0.03
33	H. Betfort, on at 85′	5	0	0	0.00
Team			1	0	1.44

Unused: M. White, C. Brooks, I. Younce

All player stats

North Carolina Courage lineup: 10 outfield starters, then 9 substitutes, then the team, with every figure for this match
#	Player	Min	G	A	xG	Sh	SOT	CC	Pass %	Tkl	Int
13	R. Williams	90	0	0	0.11	1	0	1	74%	1	1
11	F. Rauch, off at 85′	85	0	0	0.04	1	1	1	78%	1	2
20	S. Koyama	90	0	0	0.01	1	0	0	79%	0	2
12	N. Staude, off at 88′	88	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	84%	0	0
18	U. Shiragaki	90	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	86%	3	2
16	R. Jackson, off at 62′	62	0	0	0.13	1	1	1	69%	1	0
19	E. Parkinson, off at 75′	75	0	0	0.00	0	0	1	94%	1	0
10	E. Ijeh, off at 85′	85	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	80%	0	0
23	G. Paul, off at 75′	75	0	0	0.04	1	0	0	25%	0	0
2	A. Sanchez	90	1	0	1.08	5	4	0	61%	0	2
Substitutes
99	M. White	–
5	C. Brooks	–
6	I. Younce	–
8	C. Okafor, on at 88′	2	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	50%	0	0
14	C. Wickenheiser, on at 75′	15	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	64%	0	0
17	D. Weatherholt, on at 85′	5	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	57%	0	0
21	Bia, on at 75′	15	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	60%	0	0
26	V. Bøe Risa, on at 62′	28	0	0	0.03	1	0	2	83%	0	1
33	H. Betfort, on at 85′	5	0	0	0.00	0	0	0	–	0	0
Team			1	0	1.44	11	6	6	77%	7	10