Real Monarchs SLC 1 at OKC Energy FC 1
May 18, 2019; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Taft Stadium
Real Monarchs SLC (3-4-3, 12 points); OKC Energy FC (4-4-3, 15 points)
Man of the Match: Forward Tate Schmitt helped lead the charge of the Monarchs attacking front as he made dangerous runs around the Energy net. Schmitt put away a headed goal that ultimately flagged offsides, and made a dangerous run to meet a low cross from MF Josh Heard but was barely shut out by an OKC defender. In the end, it was Tate Schmitt’s goal that stole a point from Oklahoma in the dying moments of the match to secure a road point for the Monarchs.
Telling Stat: 14. The Monarchs defense combined to limit the OKC Energy attack by making a total of 14 clearances throughout the night. Combined with 19 total tackles and the one save from GK Andrew Putna staved off the Green’s possession. The defensive wall of the Monarchs helped in securing its own net and limiting the scoring to a single goal.
What You Missed: Real Monarchs SLC pulled out a goal at the death through Tate Schmitt to level out the scoring and walk away from Taft Stadium with a point in hand. A long ball from Maikel Chang found the head of Tate Schmitt whose initial shot on goal was deflected by OKC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi before Schmitt cleaned up the shot for the lone Monarchs goal. RSL men GK Andrew Putna and MF Justin Portillo each joined Schmitt on the Starting XI, playing for the full 90 minutes to help pull out the last-second draw.
So What: For the first time in the all-time series history, Real Monarchs walk away from Taft Stadium with a point in hand as the dramatic last-second goal from Schmitt stole the point from the hosts. The draw snapped a three-game losing streak on the road, earning the Monarchs a point that puts it 15th in the Western Conference table with 12 points so far in the 2019 season. Real Monarchs SLC now return home next week on Saturday, May 25 to host 2018 Western Conference Champions Phoenix Rising FC. The match-up at Zions Bank Stadium is set for an evening kickoff of 8:00 p.m. MT.
