Match review: Royals, RSL both suffer defeat in road doubleheader weekend

Dominic Marczuk (11) with the ball prior to scoring the lone goal of the match. | Meagan Johnson, Real Salt Lake

The Utah Royals fell to San Diego on Friday, in a 4-2 loss in California. The two goals were both courtesy of Japanese defender Mina Tanaka, who notched her second career brace, cementing her as the highest goal-scorer in Utah club history with 15.

On Saturday, Real Salt Lake was defeated by Orlando City in a 2-1 loss, with the Claret-and-Cobalt’s lone goal a result of Polish midfielder Dominic Marczuk, who scored in the 36th minute, marking his first MLS goal this season.

Tanaka becomes all-time leading scorer as Royals fall

Coming off a 3-2 victory over Bay FC last Friday, Royals Head coach Jimmy Coenraetsmade no changes to the starting lineup.

San Diego found the net early when Trinity Byars made a breakaway up the left side in the 4th minute, drawing out Royals’ goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn, and placing the ball into the right side of the net.

The Royals responded in the 29th minute when NWSL veteran Cece Delzer found Mina Tanaka, who took a shot from the right side to find the top corner of the net and equalize the score.

Minutes later, San Diego attempted on goal but were unable to convert when URFC “Iron Woman” Kate Del Fava made a crucial slide, preventing San Diego from finding the back of the net. In the 40th minute, however, San Diego notched another when the Wave’s Melanie Barcenas sent a left-footed shot that narrowly sailed past McGlynn, to retain the lead.

The Royals came out of the locker room from halftime with fervor, finding their equalizer quickly. In the 47th minute, a scramble in the box resulted in Lacasse with the ball, the forward sending it over to Tanaka. The Japanese playmaker chipped the ball into the right side of the net, leveling the score for the second time that night and notching herself a brace. The goal marked multiple milestones including Lacasse’s 9th assist of the season, breaking her own single-season record. Tanaka’s brace makes her the first player for Utah to record multiple braces, and Tanaka earned her the title of all-time leading goal scorer in Utah club history with 15 goals, passing Amy Rodriguez.

Despite the Royals aggression, San Diego countered in the 63rd minute with Trinity Byars once again. She made a quick breakaway down the center, sending a shot from the top of the box and giving the Wave a 3-2 lead. San Diego quickly found consecutive success in the 70th minute, when Ludmila tapped the ball in, giving the Wave a 4-2 victory over the Royals.

Quotable

“When we play a game like this, it’s about learning quickly, but also we have to forget this game, move forward and start thinking about Orlando now … we’re going to learn from tonight, and we’re going to improve.” — Royals forward Cloé Lacasse

“I’m so proud of these guys and for me there’s a lot of positives to take away from this game … We had a couple really good chances as well. I think we could have done better on a couple of chances to tie the game or go up a goal, but it was a gutsy performance from a lot of players tonight stepping in and playing extremely well. ” — RSL Head coach Pablo Maestroni

Marczuk scores first season goal in defeat

RSL Head coach Pablo Maestronimade 10 personnel changes to the starting XI from Wednesday’s 3-4 loss to Dallas FC as they prepare for Leagues Cup Quarterfinals on Tuesday. Inserted into the lineup are RSL Academy products Luka Moisa and Aiden Hezarkhani along with goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar and Kobi Henry, the latter duo making their first RSL starts.

For the majority of the first half, both teams were caught in a deadlock as they battled to find the net. The stalemate ended in the 36th minute when Sam Junqua sent the ball up the middle to Dominik Marczuk on the right. Marczuk finished clinically, tucking the ball inside the left post. The goal gave the midfielder his first goal of the 2026 season, and third career MLS goal.

Stajduhar made a save just minutes later, when Orlando attempted to respond, maintaining the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 0-1 lead heading into halftime.

The Orland got the equalizer in the 53rd minute when Antoine Griezmann found the ball after the club drew out Stadjuhar, sending a touch into the back of the net, leveling the score 1-1. In the 81st minute, Greizmann scored again after creating space and shooting the ball into the right side, notching his second of the night and winning the Purple Lions the match 2-1.

Up next

Real Salt Lake now turns their attention to the Leagues Cup Quarterfinals, RSL will take on Liga MX team Club León in Denver on Tuesday, Aug. 25 with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. MDT. The match will be available to stream on Apple TV.

Next weekend, both, the Royals and RSL will take the field, playing on Saturday, Aug. 29 in an away doubleheader weekend. The Royals will battle the Orlando Pride first, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. MDT (streaming on NWSL+) before Real Salt Lake takes on the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. MDT (streaming on AppleTV).

Royals’ captain Paige Cronin (4) and teammates celebrate Mina Tanaka’s (11) goal. | Emma Corona Mina Tanaka (11) prior to scoring her second career brace. | Emma Corona RSL Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar (31) makes a save in the first half. | Meagan Johnson, Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake teammates celebrate Marczuk’s first goal of the 2026 season. | Meagan Johnson, Real Salt Lake