Herriman, Utah (Friday, July 28, 2023) – Real Monarchs (6-10-2, 21 points, 12th in West) suffered a 5-3 loss to Houston Dynamo 2, thanks to three unanswered goals from the visiting side in the final half hour of the match.
Attempting to claim their first win in MLS NEXT Pro competition over the Houston Dynamo, Real Monarchs looked to strike first, creating multiple chances in the final third within the opening minutes of the match. By the 9th minute the Monarchs had taken the early 1-0 advantage over Houston after Amferny Sinclair fired a shot from outside the 18-yard-box into the back of the net.
Just 10 minutes later Houston would find the equalizer to even the score at 1-1. As Dynamo’s Jacob Evans slithered between multiple defenders inside the Monarchs penalty area he created ample space to lay the ball off to Papa Ndoye who slotted the ball past ‘keeper Tomas Gomez for the goal. Houston would continue to search for their second, venturing into the Monarch’s final third creating a multitude of chances. In the 41st minute Dynamo 2 were mere centimeters away from finding the back of the net once more when Ezekiel Soto’s shot fell just wide of the post.
RSL Homegrown **Jude Wellings** would allow Real Monarchs to retake the lead just before the half in the first minute of added time. As the Monarchs rushed down the pitch **Ilijah Paul** fired a shot which was deflected away from goal by Houston’s goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, the deflection rebounded to the feet of Wellings who netted his first professional goal into the top corner giving the Monarchs the 2-1 lead before the end of the half.
Returning to the pitch after halftime, Houston Dynamo 2 retaliated against Real Monarchs quickly finding their second goal in the 49th minute when substitute Isaiah Reid registered another goal. It took the Monarchs only a few minutes to respond when current RSL Academy player Cayne Madhlangove launched a curling screamer into the top left corner from outside the 18-yard-box in the 58th minute to retake the 3-2 lead.
In the 61st minute, after a bad tackle by Bobby Pierre inside the box, Houston was awarded a penalty kick. Ndoye stepped up to take the shot and smoked the ball into the top left corner only inches below the crossbar to tie it up at three a piece. Reid would find his second goal of the night for Houston to allow Space City to take the lead in the 62nd minute after his shot skipped off Luis Rivera and past an out of position Gomez. The onslaught by Dynamo 2 would continue in the 84 minute as Ndoye slotted another goal into the back of the net for a hatrick against the Monarchs and the 5-3 victory.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs take a road trip to St. Louis where they will meet St. Louis CITY 2 at CITYPARK on Sunday, August 6 with kickoff set for 5:00 p.m. MT. After their short trip to Missouri, Real Monarchs will return to Zions Bank stadium to face San Jose Earthquakes II on Wednesday, August 9.
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Tomas Gomez; Cayne Madhlangove, Bobby Pierre, Delentz Pierre, Luis Rivera; Amferny Sinclair (Dominic Berrios 79’), Moses Neyman, Jude Wellings (Owen Anderson 69’); Zavier Gozo (Terron Williams 79’), Illijah Paul, Darón Iskenderian
Subs not used: Derrek Chan, Izzy Amparo, Nicholas Nobles, Griffin Dillon
Colorado Rapids 2 (4-3-3): Xavier Valdez; Isaiah LeFlore, Talen Maples, Tate Lampman, Mujeeb Murana; Brooklyn Raines, Charles Auguste, Diego Gonzalez; Papa Ndoye, Ezekiel Soto (Isaiah Reed 45’), Jacob Evans
Subs not used: Omar Grey, Yair Gonzalez, Joe Farous, Isaiah Reid, Jathan Juarez, Ifeanyi Udanoh, Andrew Pannenberg, Paolo Ríos
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Amferny Sinclair (caution) 11’
