Utah Royals FC defender Elizabeth Ball, right, battles with Houston Dash forward Veronica Latsko for the ball during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
The Associated Press
HERRIMAN, Utah (AP) - Rookie Tziarra King came off the bench and scored her first National Women's Soccer League goal Tuesday to pull the Utah Royals into a 3-3 draw with the Houston Dash in the Challenge Cup tournament.
Rachel Daly scored a pair of goals as the Dash built a 3-1 lead but the Royals came back with late goals from Vero Boquete and King in the match played without fans at Zions Bank Stadium.
The NWSL is the first professional team sports league in the United States to play amid the coronavirus pandemic. The league was shut down on March 12 before the regular season had started.
Diana Matheson took a feed from Amy Rodriguez and slotted it for a goal in the 35th minute to give the Royals the early lead. Matheson missed last season with a foot injury that also kept her off Canada's squad for the World Cup.
Daly tied it at 1-all in first-half stoppage time. Her second goal was a header off a corner kick in the 47th minute. She appeared to get the hat trick in the 61st minute but the official said it was not a goal.
Houston went up 3-1 in the 67th minute with Shea Groom's goal from the top of the box. But the Royals pulled closer on Boquete's free kick that went in between a gap in the wall in the 82nd minute. They tied on King's header in the 89th.
The Royals were without top scorer Christen Press, the U.S. national team star who opted out of the tournament. Fellow national team player Kelley O'Hara did not play because of a quad injury.
As in Saturday's Challenge Cup openers, the players wore Black Lives Matter T-shirts during warmups. Nearly every player knelt when the national anthem was played. But unlike Saturday, players were given the option of remaining in the locker room for the anthem. The rule was changed following criticism of some players who stood during the anthem before the opening games.
All eight of the league's teams that are participating in the tournament are playing four group stage games to determine seeding for the quarterfinals. The final is set for July 26.
Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly (3) scores past Utah Royals FC defender Elizabeth Ball (7) during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell is scored against by a Utah Royals FC free kick during the second half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly (3) celebrates with teammate Megan Oyster (11) after scoring against Utah Royals FC during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Houston Dash midfielder Erin Simon, rear, and Utah Royals FC forward Raissa Strom-Okimoto battle for the ball during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Houston Dash forward Shea Groom (6) takes a shot as Utah Royals FC midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta (9) defends during the first half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Utah Royals FC midfielder Diana Matheson, right, tries to take the ball from Houston Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell (1) during the second half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. Matheson received a yellow card. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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Houston Dash's Shea Groom (6) jumps in the arms of teammate Haley Hanson after scoring against the Utah Royals FC during the second half of an NWSL Challenge Cup soccer match at Zions Bank Stadium Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Herriman, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
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