Mallory Swanson converted a penalty kick in the first half and the host Chicago Red Stars beat the Utah Royals 3-1 on Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview.
The Red Stars (5-3-1) have won three of their last five.
The expansion Royals (1-6-1), playing the first of three straight on the road, sit at the bottom of the standings. Their only win this season came against the North Carolina Courage on March 22.
Jenna Bike scored her first NWSL goal on a header off a well-placed cross from Swanson in the 23rd minute.
Swanson scored on the penalty kick in the 29th minute after Bike was brought down in the box by Lauren Flynn. It was the seventh penalty Utah has conceded in seven games.
Cameron Tucker’s goal in the 81st minute helped the Royals avoid the shutout, but the Red Stars’ Penelope Hocking added a final goal in stoppage time for the final margin.
