Lawrence, Kansas (Sunday, May 8, 2022) – Real Monarchs (0-4-2, 2 points) fell short on the road, losing at Sporting Kansas City II (2-4-1, 7 points). Midfielder Tyrone Mondi netted his first goals in a Monarchs uniform with a first-half brace, but the team was unable to hold onto the lead, eventually falling to the home side 4-2.
In MLS NEXT Pro’s game of the week, Real Monarchs started the game out on the front foot with a goal in the seventh minute. After two early opportunities on goal, the Monarchs won the ball with a high press. Defender Pierre Reedy was then able to find Mondi sitting at the top of the box. Mondi cut around two Kansas City defenders before tucking a low shot into the bottom-right corner. As the half progressed, the Monarchs continued to be the aggressors as defender Golden Mafwenta made a run through the middle of the pitch and fired a shot of his own, just over the crossbar. Christian Nydegger and Reedy nearly added to the score sheet as well with Nydegger almost chipping Sporting Kansas City II goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and Reedy shooting a rocket over the net.
Real Monarchs added to the score sheet again in the 25th minute. On a long through ball from defender Marcus Vasquez, Mondi made a run, splitting the two Kansas City center backs to give him a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Mondi’s shot went through the legs of McIntosh into the back of the net to secure the brace and extend the lead. Despite being under immense pressure in the first half, Sporting Kansas City II was able to go into the halftime break level with the Monarchs, scoring two goals in the final five minutes. Kansas City forward Mataeo Bunbury matched Mondi with a brace of his own.
As the second half began, the two sides came out swinging with both sides finding opportunities, until the 71st minute when Sporting Kansas City II was able to break through with two more goals. Collin Fernandez curled a ball into the box and onto the head of Cole McLagan to take a 3-2 lead. Kansas City followed that up with a goal from former RSL Homegrown Julian Vasquez who slotted his shot into the bottom right corner to double the lead. Despite a few late chances, the Monarchs were unable to get back into the match, falling 4-2 to Sporting KC II.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs head back to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Tacoma Defiance for the clubs’ second meeting this season on Sunday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. MT. The Monarchs will return to Zions Bank Stadium for Pride Night, facing North Texas SC on Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Pierre Reedy) 7th Minute: After a high press from Real Monarchs, Bode Davis was able to win the ball and lay it off to Pierre Reedy. Reedy then found Tyrone Mondi sitting at the top of the box. Mondi beat out two defenders and slotted his shot into the bottom right corner for his first professional goal.
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Marcus Vasquez) 25th minute: In the 25th minute, Vasquez connected with Mondi on an arching ball over the SKC II backline. Mondi was left alone with Kansas City goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and was able to slip his shot perfectly in between the goalkeeper’s legs and into the back of the net to secure the brace.
SKC: Mataeo Bunbury (Julian Vasquez) 42th minute: Forward Julian Vasquez hit a through ball across the Monarchs’ backline to Bunbury who fired a shot that was originally blocked by Beavers. Monarchs defender Bobby Pierre recovered and seemed to have stopped the ball from crossing the goal line, but the referee determined that the ball had crossed the line for Kansas City’s first goal of the match.
SKC: Mataeo Bunbury (Cade Thomson) 45th + 2 minute: After a failed clearance from a corner kick, the ball bounced around the goal box and fell to midfielder Cade Thomson. Thomson crossed it into the near post where he connected with Bunbury who was able to flick the ball over Beavers for the equalizer.
SKC: Cole McLagan (Collin Fernandez) 71st minute: On a free kick, McLagen hooked the ball into the center of the box and onto the head of Collin Fernandez who was able to find the top left corner to take the lead.
SKC: Julian Vasquez (Cade Thomson) 73rd minute: After receiving a ball from Cade Thomson, Julian Vasquez was able to dribble past Nydegger and fire a shot into the bottom right corner to extend the lead 4-2.
NOTES:
-Today’s match was the Monarchs’ first to be featured as MLS NEXT Pro’s “Game of the Week,” including two announcers and multiple camera angles compared to its typical, one announcer and one camera broadcast
-Defender Aziz Kayondo made his first start and appearance for Real Monarchs against Sporting Kansas City II since signing with the club on April 27
-Midfielder Tyrone Mondi netted his first two goals in MLS NEXT Pro with a first-half brace. Mondi’s goals were also the first Monarchs goals in the first 45 minutes of a match this season.
- 12 of the 18 players available for the Monarchs during Sunday’s match against SKC are current or former RSL Academy products.
-The Monarchs led in shots for the first time this season with 16, nearly doubling SKCII’s tally with 9.
Match: Real Monarchs at Sporting Kansas City II
Date: May 8, 2022
Venue: Rock Chalk Park
Weather: 52 and clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 2 0 2
Sporting Kansas City II 2 2 4
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Pierre Reedy) 7’
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Marcus Vasquez) 25’
SKC: Mataeo Bunbury (Julian Vasquez) 42’
SKC: Mataeo Bunbury (Cade Thomson) 45+2’
SKC: Cole McLagan (Collin Fernandez) 71’
SKC: Julian Vasquez (Cade Thomson) 73’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Gavin Beavers, Aziz Kayondo (Terron Williams 76’), Golden Mafwenta, Bobby Pierre, Marcus Vasquez, Abokye Bikyeombe (Yekeson Subah 75’), Christian Nydegger, Tyron Mondi, Bode Davis, Pierre Reedy, Pedro Fonseca
Subs not used: Blake Kelly, Gabriel Oksanen, Izzy Amparo, Jack Imperato, Aldo Carmona
Sporting Kansas City II (4-3-3): Kendall McIntosh, Spencer Glass (Coby Jones 46’), Esai Easley (Cole McLagan 49’), Michael Lenis, Jahon Rad, Collin Fernandez, Cade Thomson, Curtez Kellman (Rauf Salifu 22’), Julian Vasquez, Mataeo Bunbury (Josh Coan 82’), Guy Michaeli (Osvaldo Cisneros 62’)
Subs not used: Ethan Bandre, Paul Agyei
Stats Summary: SKC / RM
Shots: 9 / 16
Shots on Goal: 5 / 6
Saves: 4 / 1
Corner Kicks: 7 / 6
Fouls: 13 / 14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SKC: Guy Michaeli (caution) 9’
RM: Abokye Bikyeombe (caution) 29’
RM: Bode Davis (caution) 37’
RM: Christian Nydegger (caution) 45’
SKC: Rauf Salifu (caution) 64’
SKC: Coby Jones (caution) 65’
RM: Pierre Reedy (caution) 65’
RM: Bobby Pierre (caution) 78’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
Assistant Referees: Justin Mack, Jay Norris
4th Official: Luis Tribaldo
