The Utah Royals were looking for their first road win of the season and they found it in Piscataway, N.J., where Sky Blue FC was a generous host, serving up an own goal in the 85th minute to give Utah a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
The Royals (3-2-5) got off to a fast start at Yurcak Field, going up 1-0 in the third minute on a goal by Diana Matheson.
Gunny Jonsdottir intercepted a pass in the midfield and, after giving the ball to Taylor Lytle, got it back and sprinted up the left flank before finding a sliding Matheson with a cross.
The lead did not last for long.
Shea Groom took a pass from Katie Johnson and scored the equalizer in the 10th minute, getting her left-footed shot past Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. It was the sixth goal of the season for Sky Blue (0-8-1).
Things slowed down after the quick start and the teams went into halftime tied at 1-1.
The score remained the same until the 85th minute when Sky Blue defender Mandy Freeman tried to stop Jonsdottir’s cross to Katie Stengel in front of the goal, only to have the ball deflect off her foot and into the net for an own goal as goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan dived to her left but came up empty handed.
The Royals were missing three of their top players, with goalkeeper Abby Smith, defender Becky Sauerbrunn and striker Amy Rodriguez all off with the U.S. National Team.
Sky Blue was also short-handed, playing without National Team call-ups Carli Lloyd and Savannah McCaskill, who have combined for three goals.
After taking two weeks off for the FIFA international break, the Royals will return with another road game, this time at the league-leading North Carolina Courage on June 16. The teams played to a tie earlier this season.