McAllen, Texas (Friday, May 13, 2016) – Real Monarchs ground out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in very humid South Texas Friday night, coming away from Rio Grande Valley with a point against the Toros in USL soccer action.
Monarchs FW Ricardo Velazco got the Claret-and-Cobalt off to a dream start early, coolly slotting a 7th minute penalty kick after MF Elder Torres, the Honduran youth international making his full debut for the Monarchs, was taken down in the box.
Torres quickly established himself as the most impressive player on the park in the first half, pulling the strings in front of MF Alec Sundly and MF Danilo Acosta. The Monarchs momentum was halted in the 28th minute, as the referee called for the mandated, predetermined hydration break, due to the severe heat.
Straight out of the short break, RGV earned a corner and had a free header at goal but missed wide. As the half wore on, Velazco brilliantly to beat two RGV defenders and cut the ball back for FW Andrew Brody, however Brody handled the ball and was not able to convert from a strong position. With four minutes of stoppage time added to the end of the first half it was RGV that almost got an equalize, but GK Lalo Fernandez made a terrific save down to his left to maintain his side’s slender advantage going into the interval.
Straight out of the halftime break Fernandez made another smart save, denying the fruits of excellent interplay between 3 RGV players. RGV later managed to level the score, after a good ball was sent in by their winger and deflected off the otherwise excellent DF Chris Schuler, toe-poked into the net by the onrushing Manotas.
Schuler, with only 45 minutes under his belt last week,was a defensive general all night, marshalling his troops and completing the full 90 minutes, which is a formidable sign for his continued rehabilitation after last seeing game action 10 months ago for RSL, part of only playing five games in 2015.
Acosta then proceeded to play the ball of the match, a raking ball that split two lines of defense to put FW Colin Rolfe through on goal, but the number 9 was denied by a spectacular save from the RGV goalkeeper, diving to his right. That marvelous ball was Acosta’s last contribution, as he was given his second yellow card and marching orders for a poorly timed challenge.
Down to 10 men, the Monarchs reverted to a very compact two sets of 4 and brought on FW Kevaughn Frater to use his pace as a counter-attacking mechanism. Another Monarchs substitution saw the return of RSL MF Omar Holness, his first action since an opening day seizure and dislocated shoulder, replacing the brilliant Torres to shore up the midfield. Despite being up a man, RGV did not threaten the very solid Monarchs back line and it was not until the Jamaican international Frater received two yellow cards in quick succession that the visitors really had their backs against the wall. Frater got his first booking for a reckless tackle in the 83rd minute but was then given his second minutes later rather conspicuously as it looked very much like he was the man being fouled on this occasion.
With five minutes plus stoppage time remaining, the Monarchs bunkered down and worked tirelessly for each other, fighting off barrage after barrage from the Toros and earning a very good point at a strong RGV outfit.
The Monarchs head home to play the Orange County Blues at Ute Soccer Field on the campus of the University of Utah next Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. MT before continuing this long road stretch, another nine of 11 away from Rio Tinto Stadium in the offing.
RIO GRANDE VALLEY TOROS II 1 : 1 REAL MONARCHS
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY SOCCER STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 0 1
Rio Grande Valley Toros 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
RM: Ricardo Velazco (PK) 7’
RGV: Mauro Manotas 58’
Misconduct Summary:
RM: Emilio Orozoco (Caution; Foul) 11’
RGV: Jorginho James (Caution; Foul) 18’
RM: Colin Rolfe (Caution; Foul) 45’
RGV: Sebastien Ibeagha (Caution; Foul) 45’
RM: Alec Sundly (Caution; Foul) 46’
RM: Danilo Acosta (Caution; Simulation) 52’
RM: Danilo Acosta (Red Card Second yellow; Foul) 69’
RGV: Charlie Ward (Caution; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 69’
RM: Kevaughn Frater (Caution; Foul) 83’
RM: Kevaughn Frater (Red Card second yellow; Foul) 85
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Boyd Okwuonu, Chris Schuler, Emilio Orozco, Max Lachowecki; Alec Sundly (Tyler Arnone 82’), Danilo Acosta, Andrew Brody (Darion Copeland 88’), Ricardo Velazco
