Real Monarchs 2 at 0 Minnesota United FC 2
July 09, 2023; National Sports Center; Blaine, Minnesota_Real Salt Lake (6-9-2, 21 points); Minnesota United FC 2 (6-6-4, 23 points)_
Man of the Match: Mexican Youth International goalkeeper **Fernando Delgado** was crucial in between the sticks for Real Monarchs, recording his third-career clean sheet and the team’s fifth shutout this year. Delgado came up big in the opening moments of the match, providing multiple point-blank saves to keep his team in the contest before the Monarchs eventually scored first in the 38th minute. Delgado also flashed his ability to handle the ball with his feet, coming off his line to beat attackers to the ball and building up play from the back.
Telling Stats: With the win the Monarchs improve their road record to 5-4-0, winning their third game away from home in the last five attempts and securing 15 of their total 21 points on the road. The win also marks the first time that the Monarchs have defeated MNUFC2, previously going 0-2-1 over the last two seasons. Ilijah Paul’s penalty goal in the 38th minute was his fourth goal of the campaign, the most scored by a Monarch up to this point in the season. Paul’s goal also snapped the Loons’ three-match clean sheet streak, having not conceded a goal since June 11. The Monarchs are now an impressive 4-1-1 when scoring the game’s first goal.
What You Missed: Looking to exact revenge on Minnesota United FC 2 after losing the season opener at home, the Monarchs took little time to get the ball rolling. Five minutes in, **Bertin Jacquesson** fancied a shot from the top of the box, but his effort was deflected away by a defender. The Loons came close to opening the scoring moments later when Cameron Dunbar pounced on a defensive lapse in the back, but his shot rolled past the far post. The next ten minutes saw Dunbar twice come close to breaking the deadlock, but he was denied by **Fenando Delgado** on consecutive saves to keep the score even. It would be the Monarchs who struck first when **Ilijah Paul** converted a penalty kick in the 38th minute after **Julian Vazquez** was brought down in the box, giving the visitors the 1-0 lead at the break. Just seconds after the commencement of the second half **Darón Iskenderian** doubled the Monarchs lead, collecting his own rebound and burying a shot from inside the area. Jacquesson had an opportunity in the 73rd minute to extend the lead even further, but his 1v1 opportunity was shut down by Minnesota ‘keeper Alec Smir who spread wide to stop the Frenchman’s shot. In the final 20 minutes the Monarchs were content to sit back and contain the Minnesota attack, holding on for the 2-0 victory to secure the fifth road win of the year.
What’s Next: Real Monarchs return home to Zions Bank Stadium to face Rocky Mountain rivals Colorado Rapids 2 on July 14 at 8:00 p.m. MT before a week-long break for the MLS NEXT All-Star game, which will feature Monarchs’ players Jude Wellings and Zavier Gozo.
