Sandy, UT (Saturday, May 13, 2017) – Real Monarchs SLC (7-1-0, 21 points, 2 nd West) earned their fourth consecutive victory with a 2-0 win against Sacramento Republic FC Saturday night, before 1,982 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Goals from FW Daniel Haber and MF Sebastian Velasquez enabled GK Connor Sparrow and the Monarchs defense to secure a second straight clean sheet, pulling the Utah side to within two points of overall USL leader San Antonio (7-0-2, 23 points, 1st West).
Monarchs HC Mark Briggs saw his team’s attack continue its blistering form as his side scored multiple goals in a match for the seventh time in eight games this year. With the two-goal effort and a scoreless draw by San Antonio FC earlier in the evening, the Monarchs are the league’s highest scoring offense with 20 total goals, despite one fewer game played.
Although opportunities were few and far between in the first half, the Monarchs broke through in the 39th minute. MF Daniel Haber smashed home MF Andrew Brody’s rebound into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season, giving the Monarchs 11 different goalscorers in 2017. On what proved to be the game-winner, Monarchs DF Max Lachowecki set up Brody on the far post, and even though Republic GK Evan Newton denied the first chance, Haber was on the doorstep to ensure the finish.
The home side sealed the match off early in the second half. Quick in transition, the Monarchs turned a header out of their own penalty area into a goal. MF Sebastian Velasquez beat Sacramento DF Jeremy Hall in a foot race to the penalty area, and the dynamic playmaker finished calmly into the far post side-netting for his fourth tally of the year and his second in as many games. Monarchs FW Chandler Hoffman earned the assist for playing Velasquez into the Republic FC half, the duo each tied with four goals on the season.
Real GK Connor Sparrow earned his second clean sheet of the campaign – and the week. The Monarchs goalkeeper denied Republic FC’s best chance in the early stages. Sparrow positioned a five-man wall smartly and collected the save on Danny Barrera’s 6th minute free kick from 25 yards out. In total, the keeper collected two saves for his third win of the season, and backstopped the Monarchs to an active 224-minute shutout streak.
Briggs used all three substitutions at his disposal. FW Jonel Desire replaced Hoffman at the 77th minute mark, while MF Emmanuel Ocran relieved Velasquez in the 82nd minute. MF Karsten Hanlin entered in the 87 th minute for Haber, who appeared to exit the match with an injury.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs stay at Rio Tinto Stadium for Week 9 against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (7:00 p.m. MT, Saturday). It will be the second meeting between the two sides. Switchbacks FC dealt the Monarchs their lone loss this year, a 2-1 defeat at Weidner Field on April 22. TICKETS are available at www.RSL.com/Monarchs or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM -- Daniel Haber, 39th minute: After a long spell of possession, Max Lachowecki spotted Andrew Brody alone on the far post. Brody’s initial effort was saved by Evan Newton, but the rebound caromed off Julius James to Daniel Haber who was inside the goal box. The Monarchs midfielder smashed the rebound into the roof of the net.
RM -- Sebastian Velasquez, 58th minute: Quick in transition, Chandler Hoffman nodded a clearance into space for Sebastian Velasquez. The diminutive playmaker beat Jeremy Hall in a foot race down the left side. Velasquez finished calmly past Newton into the far post side netting.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RM -- Connor Sparrow, 6th minute: Danny Barrera’s left-footed free kick from 25 yards out didn’t foot Connor Sparrow. The Monarchs goalkeeper caught the effort cleanly for his lone save of the first half.
SAC -- Evan Newton, 47th minute: From wide, Andrew Brody’s service found Chandler Hoffman at the penalty spot. The forward spun off his defender with his first touch and shot the ball with his second, but Evan Newton was positioned well for the easy stop.
SAC -- Evan Newton, 76th minute: Sebastian Velasquez’s run into the box proved fruitful in developing an opportunity. After Velasquez was dispossessed, Kyle Curinga spotted Andrew Brody on the right side, but the RSL Academy product’s chance went straight to the Sacramento Republic FC goalkeeper.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs are now 3-2-3 overall against Sacramento Republic FC.
- Daniel Haber’s 39th minute strike was the midfielder’s first of the season and eighth career USL goal.
- With his 58th minute tally, Sebastian Velasquez tied Chandler Hoffman for the team lead in goals with four.
- The Monarchs are winners of four matches in a row, while the team’s overall total of 7 wins equals its inaugural 2015 mark and puts the club just two shy of last year’s total of nine, with 22 games remaining this season.
- With the 2-0 effort and a scoreless draw for San Antonio earlier in the evening, Mark Briggs and Company own the highest scoring offense in the league with 20 total goals. The USL side has now scored multiple goals in all but one game this year.
Match: Sacramento Republic FC at Real Monarchs
Date: May 13, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 1,982
Weather: 58 degrees and sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 1 2
Sacramento Republic FC 0 0 0
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Connor Sparrow; Max Lachowecki, Michael Gallagher, James Moberg, Kyle Curinga; Nick Besler, Charlie Adams; Daniel Haber (Karsten Hanlin 87 ’), Sebastian Velasquez (Emmanuel Ocran 82’), Andrew Brody; Chandler Hoffman (Jonel Desire 77’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Taylor Peay, Riggs Lennon, Skyler Milne
Sacramento Republic FC (4-4-2): Evan Newton; James Kiffe, Chris Christian, Julius James, Emrah Klimenta; Tyler Blackwood, Jeremy Hall, Agustin Cazarez, Danny Barrera; Sammy Ochoa, Trevin Caesar (Elliott Hord 45’)
Subs not used: Dominik Jakubek, Daniel Trickett-Smith, Wilson Kneeshaw, Harry Williams, Gabe Gissie, Christian Chaney
Stats Summary: RM / SAC
Shots: 10 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 15 / 13
Offside: 2 / 4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM - James Moberg (Caution) - 26’
SAC - Trevin Caesar (Caution) - 29’
RM - Daniel Haber (Caution) - 72’
RM - Charlie Adams (Caution) - 72’
RM - Connor Sparrow (Caution) - 90+’
SAC - James Kiffe (Caution) - 90+’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistant Referees: Joshua Mills, Kali Smith
4th Official: Hamed Sadeghix
