Sandy, Utah (Saturday, April 29, 2017) – Real Monarchs DF James Moberg scored the eventual game-winner in the 36th minute, as Head Coach Mark Briggs' side improved to 3-0-0 at home with a 2-1 victory for Utah's USL side (5-1-0, 15 points, 2nd West) against Swope Park Rangers at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Monarchs FW Chandler Hoffman opened the scoring the 19th minute with his fourth goal of the young season. The striker made no mistake on a trailing run after DF Max Lachowecki spotted Hoffman unmarked at the penalty spot. Moberg then doubled the advantage 15 minutes later. RSL MF Ricardo Velazco’s set piece offering deflected to an opportunistic Moberg at the top of the box. On the volley, Moberg rocketed it past a diving David Greczek for his second goal of the year, giving the home side a 2-0 halftime lead.
Swope Park pulled one back after the break, cutting the Monarchs' lead in half. FW Kharlton Belmar was sent in free behind the Monarchs defense by Colton Storm. The striker beat Moberg to the ball and finished neatly into the side-netting past GK Connor Sparrow. For most of the second half, Sparrow continued to pile on the pressure, but the Monarchs defense withstood the attack all the way until the final whistle, needing Sparrow to deliver heroics in the waning moments. In his season debut, the goalkeeper was called upon in second-half stoppage time, denying a point-blank effort from Amer Didic for his third and final save of the win.
Briggs utilized all three changes available on the afternoon, as Monarchs DF Michael Gallagher replaced RSL DF Aaron Maund after 61 minutes of action for the USL side in an injury rehabilitation assignment. SLC native DF Taylor Peay replaced MF Jesus Leal in the 71st minute, while playmaking MF Sebastian Velasquez made way after 79 minutes of play for MF Daniel Haber.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will be on the road for Week 8 against LA Galaxy II (4:00 p.m. MT, Wednesday). ‘Los Dos’ beat the Monarchs last time they played 3-1 at the StubHub Center.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM -- Chandler Hoffman (Max Lachowecki), 19th minute: Ricardo Velazco began the move down the left channel into the penalty area. Max Lachowecki continued the play on a well-timed overlapping run and found Chandler Hoffman alone for the one-touch finish at the penalty spot.
RM -- James Moberg (Aaron Maund), 36th minute: Velazco’s set piece caused problems in the box. His service was intended for Aaron Maund, but the deflection caught James Moberg at the top of the penalty area. Moberg volleyed the chance into the top corner past a diving David Greczek.
SPR -- Kharlton Belmar, 48th minute: Colton Storm unlocked the Monarchs defense with one pass from the Rangers defensive third. He found Kharlton Belmar behind the defense, and the forward finished tidily into the side netting.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
SPR -- David Greczek, 39th minute: With loads of space in the midfield, Ricardo Velazco launched a shot from 30 yards out, but David Greczek was positioned well for the save.
RM -- Connor Sparrow, 42nd minute: James Musa played Cameron Iwasa in front of the Monarchs defense. Iwasa took his chance on the right side of the box, but Connor Sparrow did well to deny the striker.
SPR -- David Greczek, 51st minute: Sebastian Velasquez caused a turnover near midfield and spotted Ricardo Velazco on the back shoulder. Velazco’s effort from just beyond the 18 was saved by Greczek down to the goalkeeper’s left side.
RM -- Sebastian Velasquez, 60th minute: Sebastian Velasquez jumped on a Rangers turnover at the top of the penalty area but couldn’t finish past Greczek. The diminutive playmaker poke past the goalkeeper was just off target.
SPR -- David Greczek, 88th minute: Andrew Brody kept the ball in play up against the endline. David Greczek made his finest stop of the night down to his left, pushing the shot wide for a clearance.
RM -- Connor Sparrow, 90+ minute: Up against the endline, James Musa played in the perfect ball into the far post to a wide open Amer Didic, but Connor Sparrow denied the late equalizer.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs are 2-0-0 overall against Swope Park Rangers, who joined the USL last season.
- RSL first team regular Aaron Maund returned to action after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. The defender partnered with James Moberg for 61 minutes.
- Chandler Hoffman bagged his team-leading fourth goal of the season, all coming in April.
- Brighton High School product Taylor Peay made his Monarchs debut for Mark Briggs. The defender played the final 19 minutes.
- The USL side has scored multiple goals in every one of its five victories this season, the lone exception coming in a 2-1 defeat road defeat against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15.
Match: Swope Park Rangers at Real Monarchs
Date: April 29, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: 55 degrees and cloudy
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
Real Monarchs 2 0 2
Swope Park Rangers 0 1 1
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Connor Sparrow; Max Lachowecki, Aaron Maund (Michael Gallagher 61’), James Moberg, Kyle Curinga; Nick Besler, Jesus Leal (Taylor Peay 71’); Ricardo Velazco, Sebastian Velasquez (Daniel Haber 79’), Andrew Brody; Chandler Hoffman
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Karsten Hanlin, Chase Minter, Jonel Desiré
Swope Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): David Greczek; Colton Storm, Erik Palmer-Brown, Tyler Pasher (Parker Maher 45’), Amer Didic, James Musa, Kevin Oliveira (Nansel Selbol 82’), Christian Duke; Kharlton Belmar, Cameron Iwasa, Lebo Moloto (Felipe Hernandez 70’)
Subs not used: Darrin MacLeod, Dakota Barnathan, Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, Robert Mirosavic
Stats Summary: RM / SPR
Shots: 9 / 13
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 14 / 16
Offside: 2 / 6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SPR -- James Musa (Caution) - 7’
SPR -- Amer Dedic (Caution) - 14’
RM -- Sebastian Velasquez (Caution) - 24’
SPR -- Kevin Oliveira (Caution) - 45+’
SPR -- Kharlton Belmar (Caution) - 49’
SPR -- Christian Duke (Caution) - 82’
RM -- Ricardo Velazco (Caution) - 84’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Allen Pickett
4th Official: Josh Weibel
