ST. LOUIS (Sunday, August 2, 2026) — Real Monarchs (6-11-4, 26 pts, 11th West) lose its third consecutive match, falling on the road 3-0 to St. Louis CITY 2 (8-6-7, 33 pts, 7th West) at Energizer Park.
Looking to snap a two-game losing streak, the Monarchs traveled to St. Louis for the second stop in its three-game road trip. St. Louis CITY 2 came into the matchup looking to end a streak of their own: a seven-game winless streak dating back to June 6.
RSL Academy man Cris Rios made his professional debut on Sunday, starting his first game for Real Monarchs after being called up from the U18 squad. Rios logged 83 minutes in his debut at right back, highlighting another young star to look out for in the future.
Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half, and going into the break the two teams had combined for five shots with zero on target. The Monarchs’ best chance of the half came in the 13th minute from Lionel Djiro, who made his second start for the squad on Sunday. Djiro darted up the right touchline and cut onto his left foot, curling a shot towards goal that missed just wide of the far post.
St. Louis got the action started quickly in the second half, scoring with its first shot after coming out of the locker room. The goal came in the 53rd minute, when Zachary Zengue took a touch on his right foot and finished with a half volley that beat Max Kerkvliet to his near post. The goal gave the home side momentum, who continued to grow into the match. A little over 10 minutes later in the 64th, St. Louis got their second off a corner when Kerkvliet was unable to corral the ball after a cross from Miguel Perez into a chaotic box.
Late in the game, St. Louis continued its offensive pressure and pushed for a third. Things went from bad to worse for the Monarchs in the 87th minute, when Kerkvliet came out of his box to receive a long ball. His pass was miscontrolled by Luis Rivera, allowing Riley Lynch to score on an open net.
The Monarchs were unable to find a way back into the game, and the home side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win breaking its seven-game winless streak.
Real Monarchs continues its road trip on Saturday, August 8, where it will try to snap its three-game losing streak against Houston Dynamo 2 at SaberCats Stadium.
STL 3 : 0 SLC
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
STL: Zachary Zengue (Palmer Ault) 53’: Ault dribbled the ball down the left touchline, finding the run of Zengue who made his way into the box unmarked. Zengue took a touch and finished with a right-footed half volley to the near post.
STL: Miguel Perez (Zachary Zengue) 64’: Zengue played a short corner to Perez who crossed the ball into the box. Crowded by St. Louis attackers, Kerkvliet was unable to control the ball as it rolled into the goal.
STL: Riley Lynch 86’: Kerkvliet came out of his box to receive a long-ball from the St. Louis keeper. He took a one-touch pass to Rivera, who was unable to control the ball that eventually fell to Lynch. Lynch finished from outside the box on an empty net with a left-footed shot.
LINEUPS:
Real Monarchs (4-4-2): Max Kerkvliet; Cris Rios (Chance Cowell, 83’), Kobi Henry, Dylan Kropp, Ruben Mesalles (Luis Rivera, 83’); Lionel Djiro (Nicholas Silva, 67’), Omar Marquez, Izzy Amparo (Linkon Ream, 79’), Owen Anderson; Luca Moisa (Antonio Riquelme, 52’), Felix Ewald
Subs not used: Trace Alphin
St. Louis CITY 2 (3-4-3): Colin Welsh; Owen Jorgensen (Stone Marion, 87’), Zack Lillington ©, Andrew De Gannes; Tyson Pearce (Riley Lynch, 50’), Miguel Perez (Adeteye Gbadehan, 87’), Alexander Jundt (Partick McDonald, 65’), Sidney Paris (Emiliano Chavez, 73’); Mykhi Jayner, Palmer Ault, Zach Zengue
Subs not used: Nate Martinez, Christopher Pearson, Nighte Pickering, Lorenzo Cornelius
Stats Summary: STL / SLC
Shots: 15 / 9
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 5
Fouls: 17 / 19
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
STL: Zack Lillington (Yellow Card - 1’)
STL: Alexander Jundt (Yellow Card - 25’)
SLC: Dylan Kropp (Yellow Card - 47’)
SLC: Omar Marquez (Yellow Card - 58’)
SLC: Kobi Henry (Yellow Card - 86’’)
SLC: Chance Cowell (Yellow Card - 88’)
