CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, May 10, 2017) – Real Monarchs SLC rode goals midway through each half to a 3-0 road win Wednesday night at LA Galaxy II to improve to 6-1-0 with 18 points on the 2017 USL campaign, good for 2nd overall in the league and 2nd overall in the Western Conference. Each of the Monarchs’ next two games take place at Rio Tinto Stadium, where the club is a perfect 3-0-0 at home going into this Saturday’s match against Sacramento and the May 20 contest vs. Colorado Springs.
Head Coach Mark Briggs’ team has scored multiple goals in each of its six victories and has not been shut out this season through seven games, with the club’s only loss coming in its lone single-goal performance in mid-April at Colorado Springs. Tonight’s clean sheet was the second of the year for the Monarchs.
MF Sebastian Velasquez opened the scoring in the 25th minute, converting a low shot from the penalty spot after being taken down on a mazy run through the box. The goal is the third of the year for “Seba,” a former RSL/NYCFC player who now serves as the Monarchs’ main midfield catalyst.
After a tense period early in the second half that saw the Monarchs unable to re-establish the dominant possession that marked most of the first 55 minutes, MF Charlie Adams broke the match open with the backbreaking goal. Velasquez set up winger Daniel Haber into the left corner, with his long cross to the far post nodded down by his opposite wing Andrew Brody. The Brody offering found Adams at the spot, and the Englishman buried a one-timer with his left foot for his first goal of the season.
With the Monarchs enjoying a man-advantage for the final 13-plus minutes after LA Galaxy II MF Zubak received his second yellow card and subsequent ejection, Haitian international FW Jonel Desiré made his club and USL debut for the Utah side. Desiré (pronounced des-uh-RAY) applied pressure on the Galaxy back line and nearly scored on multiple occasions, but LA GK Jon Kempin was up to task twice.
Kempin was unable to prevent the Monarchs’ third and final goal of the night in the 94th minute, when Velasquez split the defense with a knifing throughball for a sprinting Karsten Hanlin (another Monarchs/USL debutant) who touched around the ‘keeper and buried the chance for his first career Real goal.
Monarchs GK Connor Sparrow was able to make a pair of solid saves in the second half to preserve the shutout, thankful for his crossbar helping to deny “Los Dos” a first-half equalizer. The victory was the second straight for Sparrow, who made two appearances in all of 2016 for the Monarchs.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs return home this weekend for their second Week 8 match in four days, hosting rival Sacramento Republic FC at Rio Tinto Stadium (7:30 p.m. MT kickoff).
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM – Sebastian Velasquez (Penalty), 24th minute: Velasquez pounced on a loose ball in the Galaxy II penalty area. As he faked the first time shot he was chopped down by Galaxy II defender Jean Jospin Engola for the penalty. Velasquez easily slotted home the spot kick sending Jon Kempin left as he shot right.
RM – Charlie Adams (Andrew Brody) 65th minute: A switch of play to the far side of the box put Monarchs midfielder Andrew Brody in at the back post. Brody elected to head the ball back into the center of the box where an on-rushing Adams met the ball with a fierce first time strike that found the bottom corner of the net.
RM – Karsten Hanlin (Sebastian Velasquez) 90’+4 minute: With Galaxy II pressing high up the field in search of a goal, Monarchs midfielder Sebastian Velasquez broke free in the center of the field looking for a pass. Velasquez made a perfect pass to Hanlin who made a darting run across the Galaxy II back line and round the goalkeeper for an easy tap in.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RM – Connor Sparrow, 22nd minute: A wonderfully played ball to set off a counter attack for Galaxy II forced the Monarchs goalkeeper to make a save from close range, batting away the blast.
RM – Connor Sparrow, 31st minute: A long ball into the box near midfield by Galaxy II challenged the back line of the Monarchs. Sparrow cleared any danger by being quick off his line and out near the edge of the penalty area to claim the high ball.
RM – Connor Sparrow, 63rd minute: Another counter attack down the right side of the Monarchs put Galaxy II midfielder Ethan Zubak in position for a strike. Zubak struck a blistering shot towards the far post of Sparrow’s net but the Monarchs goalkeeper got strong right fingers to the shot to tip it around the post.
Galaxy II – Jon Kempin, 83rd minute: With the Monarchs counter attacking with numbers, Kempin was forced to make a quick decision when Monarchs striker Jonel Desire found the ball at his feet with only Kempin to beat. Kempin did well to spring off his line and snuff out the chance before Desire could get a strike on goal.
Galaxy II – Jon Kempin, 89th minute: Another attack on the left side for the Monarchs put Emmanuel Ocran in with a first time shot towards Kempin’s near post. Kempin quickly kicked out a right foot to push the ball around the post and out for a corner.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs are now 3-1-0 on the road this season, and return home Saturday looking to stay perfect at “The RioT” in Sandy, where HC Mark Briggs’ side is 3-0-0 so far in 2017
- The 18-point total for the Monarchs through 7 games more than doubles its total points at same juncture in either its 2015 inaugural season or 2016
- GK Connor Sparrow notched his first and the team’s second shutout of the season
- Haitian international Jonel Desiré made his club and league debut, coming on for leading scorer Chandler Hoffman in the 73rd minute; Karsten Hanlin scored a 2nd-half stoppage time goal in his Monarchs/USL debut as well
- The USL side has scored multiple goals in every one of its 7 games this season, the lone exception a 2-1 defeat against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15
Match: Real Monarchs at LA Galaxy II
Date: May 10, 2017
Venue: StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium, Carson, Calif.
Weather: 66 degrees and clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
LA Galaxy II 0 0 0
Real Monarchs 1 2 3
RM: Sebastian Velasquez (PK) – 25’
RM: Charlie Adams (Andrew Brody) – 64’
RM: Karsten Hanlin (Velasquez) 94+
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Connor Sparrow; Max Lachowecki, Michael Gallagher, James Moberg, Kyle Curinga; Nick Besler, Charlie Adams (Karsten Hanlin 84); Daniel Haber (Emmanuel Ocran 88), Sebastian Velasquez, Andrew Brody; Chandler Hoffman (Jonel Desiré 73)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Taylor Peay, Riggs Lennon, Skyler Milne
LA Galaxy II (4-2-3-1): Jon Kempin; Alex Juarez, Jean Engola, Hugo Arellano, Ian Lonergan; Andre Zanga (Jake Arteaga 56), Ryo Fujii (Jonathan Hernandez 72); Raul Mendioa, Jorge Hernandez (Justin Dhillon 77), Adrian Vara; Ethan Zubak
Subs not used: Eric Lopez, Robert Castellanos, Ulysses Llanez, Jonah Estrada
Stats Summary: LAII / RM
Shots: 8 / 15
Shots on Goal: 3 / 8
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 20 / 13
Offside: 4 / 6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LA – Ryo Fujii (Caution) - 7’
RM – Michael Gallagher (caution) – 13’
LA – Ethan Zubak (caution) – 61’
LA – Jonathan Hernandez (caution) – 63’
LA – Ethan Zubak (second caution/ejection) – 76’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Cynthia Vargas, Eduardo Jeff
4th Official: Martin Anthony Almeida
