SANDY — For the second year in a row, Utah Royals FC will play its final game of the season with nothing on the line.
In truth, only pride will be at stake for both teams as URFC faces the Houston Dash on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, as neither side will be advancing to the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.
URFC was eliminated from postseason contention on Sept. 28 after it lost to the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 on the road, and it has had to wait two weeks to play this final game as the NWSL observed a FIFA break.
A year ago, URFC was eliminated just a few days before its inaugural season finale. In that last game, URFC beat Chicago 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium to finish in fifth place in the NWSL, just 2 points below the playoff line.
Entering Saturday’s final day of the 2019 regular season, URFC is in sixth place in the table, 2 points behind the D.C.-based Washington Spirit and 5 points up on the Dash, which is mathematically guaranteed to finish in that seventh spot.
Although it won’t matter much, URFC will be aiming to finish the season on a positive note, as it is riding a four-game losing streak since moving into a tie for second in the NWSL table just over a month ago on Sept. 6.
During the losing streak, URFC has stumbled both offensively and defensively. After a stretch from Aug. 7-Sept. 6 in which the club scored nine goals in five contests and compiled a 4-0-1 record, URFC has scored just three times in the last four games.
Defensively, URFC gave up just 15 goals through its first 19 matches of the season but it has given up nine over the last four.
Although all four playoff spots have been officially clinched and the top two teams are guaranteed to be the North Carolina Courage and Red Stars, which team ends up third and which ends up fourth is still to be determined.
Portland Thorns FC enters Saturday in third and will play the Spirit at home in its finale, while Washington-based Reign FC is in fourth, 2 points behind the Thorns, and will face the league-worst Orlando Pride on the road.
If the Reign lose or draw, things should be decided before the Thorns play, as start times are scheduled for three hours apart, but if the Reign wins, it will set up a dramatic conclusion to the regular season, as the Thorns-Spirit game will be the final one played.