Vero Boquete Scores Utah Royals FC Goal On Free Kick Late In Second Half

HERRIMAN, Utah – Utah Royals FC scored their second goal of their opening match in the Challenge Cup with an impressive free kick by Vero Boquete.

It’s the first goal of Vero’s stint with the Royals. She scored the goal in the 82nd minute off of a free kick at the top of the 18-yard box.

Utah received the corner kick after a handball by the Houston Dash at the top of the box. The goal narrowed the Royals’ deficit to 3-2 late in the match.

82' – VERO GETS HER FIRST IN A #URFC SHIRT FROM THE FREE KICK!

2-3 | #NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/DVYSFI6VHu

— Utah Royals FC (@UtahRoyalsFC) June 30, 2020

The Royals scored the first goal of the match when forward Amy Rodriguez tracked down the ball on the right side of the goal when she fired a pass into the box. All that Diana Matheson had to do was lightly tap the ball into the back of the net past the Houston Dash goalkeeper.

After that, the Dash scored three unanswered before Utah pulled one back.

Absolute class from @VeroBoquete 👑@UtahRoyalsFC trying to mount a comeback.

3-2 | #HOUvUTA

Tune in now on @CBSAllAccess and @Twitch.#NWSLChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/DKmo7lUpN7

— National Women's Soccer League (@NWSL) June 30, 2020

It’s the season opening match for the Royals as 8 teams in the National Women’s Soccer League are playing a tournament in Herriman at the Real Salt Lake Soccer Academy.

The Royals match against the Dash is the third match of the preliminary round. The Challenge Cup started with a 2-1 win for the North Carolina Courage over Portland Thorns FC. Later on Saturday, the Washington Spirit defeated the Chicago Red Stars by a final score of 2-1.

All matches of the NWSL Challenge Cup can be seen on CBS All Access.