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Utah Royals FC lost 3-0 to the Thorns in a fall series match, with Sophia Smith scoring in her Portland debut. The match was played at Providence Park, with the Thorns taking the lead in the 35th minute through Simone Charley.
What happened?
The Thorns were scheduled to open the series at home against OL Reign on Sept. 12, but smoky conditions in Portland due to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest forced that game to be rescheduled for Sept. 30.
The Royals placed head coach Craig Harrington and assistant coach Louis Lancaster on a leave of absence, with assistant Amy LePeilbet named interim head coach.
Why it matters for Utah Royals FC
The loss comes amid controversy surrounding the team's owner, Dell Loy Hanson, who made controversial remarks following RSL's decision not to play a match in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| September 20, 2020 | Thorns 3, Utah Royals FC 0 |
What comes next?
The Royals will look to bounce back from the loss, with their next match scheduled for soon.
The team's players issued a statement before the match, saying they had had enough of racist systems and sexist stereotypes.
Utah Royals FC will need to regroup and focus on their next match, with the team's recent scandal likely to continue to be a major topic of discussion.
