SANDY, Utah (Thursday, April 6, 2017) – Real Monarchs (3-0-0, 9 points) toppled USL expansion side Reno 1868 FC 5-3 while recording their third win in as many games to start the season. The win came behind four first half goals from FW Chase Minter, FW Chandler Hoffman, MF Sebastian Velasquez and DF Kyle Curinga and a second-half stoppage-time tally from MF Jose Hernandez.
The game’s opening goal came in the 14th minute as Minter notched his first goal in a Monarchs shirt, slotting home a well-worked cross from Hoffman. It only took 12 minutes for the Monarchs to find their second goal when Velasquez slammed home his first goal since returning to the Wasatch Front in the offseason.
The Monarchs added a third goal in the 34th minute as Hoffman tallied his second of the season as he tapped home a rebound resulting from a Velasquez shot. Reno 1868 pulled a goal back to spoil the would-be shutout for GK Lalo Fernandez when Mac Pridham headed home an Antoine Hoopenot cross in the 39th minute, but four minutes later the Monarchs found their fourth as Curinga headed home his first goal of the season and first in a Monarch’s shirt from a wonderfully-weighted corner kick from MF Charlie Adams.
Reno cut the Monarchs lead to one, scoring goals in the 84th and 88th minutes through second half substitute Dane Kelly. The first came from a thunderous volley from the corner of the six-yard box and the second, a headed effort from a rebound off the crossbar.
Hernandez put the game to sleep for the Monarchs as he tallied his first professional goal since signing with RSL in Janurary.
With the win, the Monarchs set a club goal-scoring record, scoring five goals while continuing their best start in club history.
The game finished with the Monarchs taking the full three points and claiming the lead in the Western Conference. The team is now 2-0-0 under the direction of Head Coach Mark Briggs and 3-0-0 overall having scored seven goals in Briggs’ first two games in charge.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will travel to Colorado to take on Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15 (6 pm kickoff). The Monarchs and the Switchbacks have played on seven occasions with the Switchbacks leading the series with a 4-2-1 record. The April 15th matchup will be the team’s first meeting of the season.
GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM – Chase Minter (Chandler Hoffman) 14th minute: Winning the ball defensively in midfield, Sebastian Velasquez touched the ball nicely to Chandler Hoffman who dribbled Reno goalkeeper Matt Bersano and squared to Minter across the box. Minter timed his run perfectly and slammed the ball into the net.
RM – Sebastian Velasquez 26th minute: A poor clearance gave the Monarchs midfielder the ball in the attacking third headed straight for goal. Velasquez dribbled directly at Reno goalkeeper Matt Bersano before slamming home the ball on a break-away.
RM – Chandler Hoffman 34th minute: As the ball fell again to Sebastian Velasquez he went straight for goal, this time forcing a save from goalkeeper Matt Bersano. Bersano wasn’t able to keep out the second effort from Hoffman as the striker tapped home easily.
RNO – Mac Pridham (Antoine Hoppenot) 39th minute: Reno midfielder Antoine Hoppenot did well to create space near the corner and to get a cross away. The ball floated to the back post where Pridham got away from his defender to nod the ball home.
RM – Kyle Curinga (Charlie Adams) 43rd minute: Sustained Monarchs pressure led to a Charlie Adams corner. Adams drove the ball in right to the center of the box where Kyle Curinga was free of any defenders to head the ball down into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
RNO – Dane Kelly (Matheus Silva) 84th minute: After a clearance from the Monarchs, Reno midfielder Mathues Silva headed the ball back into the box and Kelly’s run. Kelly let the ball bounce once before torching the ball past Monarchs goalkeeper Fernandez and into the far side netting.
RNO – Dane Kelly (Chris Wehan) 88th minute: Sustained possession from Reno saw Brian Brown send a low cross into the box where Chris Wehan was there to crush a shot off the crossbar. The ball bounced off the crossbar and fell nicely to Kelly who headed home his second of the night.
RM – Jose Hernandez (Sebastain Velasquez) 92nd minute: A counter attack led to Velasquez getting yet another chance on goal but excellent defensive recovery from Reno forced a muffled shot from Velasquez. The shot then bounced off Hernandez’s leg a trickled past Reno goalkeeper Matt Bersano.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RNO – Matt Bersano, 24th minute: RSL midfielder Sebastian Velasquez did well to win the ball near midfield and go straight for goal. After beating the first defender he attempted to dribble Bersano near the end-line but Bersano did well to knock the chance away.
RM – James Moberg, 53rd minute: A good spell of possession from Reno saw Antoine Hoppenot attempt to push the ball inside the box to himself for a shot. Moberg read the chance and snuffed out the attempt.
RM – Lalo Fernandez, 56th minute: A rifled shot from outside the box forced a full stretch save from the Monarchs goalkeeper. Fernandez got fingertips on the shot to turn it around his post for a corner.
RM – Lalo Fernandez, 66th minute: Reno striker Dane Kelly created space for a shot after cutting into the corner of the penalty area. Kelly unleashed a curling shot that forced Fernandez into an excellent save as he punched away the effort.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs set a club goal scoring record by scoring five goals in a match while continuing the club’s best ever start to a season moving to 3-0-0.
- Real Monarchs newly appointed Head Coach Mark Briggs led his second game in charge of the Monarchs taking all three points for the second week running. The Monarchs have now scored six goals since Briggs took over as head coach.
-Chandler Hoffman, Sebastian Velasquez, Jose Hernandez and Kyle Curinga all scored their first goals for the Monarchs. Hernandez’s goal was his first professional goal since signing with RSL in January.
- The Monarchs played with three players on loan from Real Salt Lake – GK Lalo Fernandez, DF Reagan Dunk and MF Jose Hernandez.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. Reno 1868 FC
Date: April 6, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance:
Weather: Cloudy and 71 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 4 1 5
Reno 1868 1 2 3
RM: Chase Minter (Chandler Hoffman) 14’
RM: Sebastian Velasquez 26’
RM: Chandler Hoffman 34’
RNO: Mac Pridham (Antoine Hoppenot) 39’
RM: Kyle Curinga (Charlie Adams) 42’
RNO: Dane Kelly (Matheus Kelly) 84’
RNO: Dane Kelly (Chris Whehan) 88’
RM: Jose Hernandez (Sebastian Velasquez) 92+’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Kyle Curinga (Reagan Dunk 46’), James Moberg, Emilio Orozco, Max Lachowecki; Charlie Adams, Nick Besler, Andrew Brody, Chase Minter (Jose Hernandez 46’), Sebastian Velasquez; Chandler Hoffman (Daniel Haber 82’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Michael Gallagher, Jesus Leal, Skyler Milne
Reno 1868: (4-4-2): Matt Bersano; Thomas Janjigian, Matheus Silva, Brenton Griffiths (Brian Brown 71’), Kip Colvey; Matt LaGrassa, Nick Niederhausern (Chris Wehan 63’), Jackson Yuell, Junior Burgos; Antoine Hoppenot, Mac Pridham (Dane Kelly 63’)
Subs not used: Russell Klabough, Jake Ward, Cameron Vickers, Seth Casiple
Stats Summary: RM / RNO
Shots: 11 / 17
Shots on Goal: 8 / 7
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 9
Offside: 3 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Emilio Orozco (caution) 42’
RM: James Moberg (caution) 54’
RNO: Antoine Hoppenot (caution) 78’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Younes Marrakchi
Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Daniel Spicer-Escalante
4th Official: Trevor McDowell
