REAL MONARCHS SLC THROTTLES PHOENIX RISING FC 4-1
Real Monarchs Move to 8-0-1 in Inaugural Season at Zions Bank Stadium;
Velasquez, Hoffman Notch Team-Leading Seventh Goals of the Season in Statement Victory;
Club Remains atop the Western Conference Ahead of Visit from Reno 1868 FC on August 8th;
HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, July 28, 2018) – Real Monarchs SLC (14-5-2, 44 points, 1 West) dismantled Western Conference rival Phoenix Rising FC 4-1 to remain atop the Western Conference standings on Saturday night. The win also sees the club retain its unblemished record at Zions Bank Stadium intact after nine matches played, now owning an 8-0-1 record on Herriman soil.
The match began as a chess match with both teams exchanging possession and challenges inside the center of the field before MF Sebastian Velasquez slammed home his 7th of the year for the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute. In the 43rd minute, a dangerous ball into the six-yard box from MF Maikel Chang clattered off Phoenix defender Mike da Fonte and into the net to double the Monarchs advantage.
Taking the two-goal advantage into the halftime break, the Monarchs didn’t let off the gas and found a third goal through FW Chandler Hoffman when his slotted effort beat Phoenix goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski in the 65th minute. After a skirmish in the 62nd minute right in front of the Monarchs bench, Rising FC midfielder Gladson Awako was shown a straight red card, seeing the visitors play a man down for the rest of the match. Phoenix would then try to fight its way back into the match and found a goal from an unlikely source as DF Kalen Ryden poked the ball into his own net in the 76th minute.
Through the final 15 minutes of play, the Monarchs peppered the Phoenix goal and found its final goal when DF Andrew Brody slammed a shot off the cross bar and over the goal line for his second strike of the season. The goal sealed the match as the Monarchs sent 10 total shots on target during the heated affair.
UP NEXT:
The Monarchs will remain in Herriman for a bout with Reno 1868 FC on Wednesday, August 8
th
. Kick off from Zions Bank Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SLC: Sebastian Velasquez (Maikel Chang), 37th minute: Fielding a ball inside the box from Chang, Velasquez took a touch to open up his body before slamming the ball home into the top corner of the net.
SLC: Mike da Fonte (Own Goal), 43rd minute: A tricky ball played into the box from Maikel Chang clattered off da Fonte and into the net to double the Monarchs advantage.
SLC: Chandler Hoffman (Justin Portillo), 65th minute: A through ball from Portillo into the box found Hoffman streaking into the area. Hoffman set up the shot with his first touch before calmly finishing the shot with the second touch.
PHX: Kalen Ryden (Own Goal), 76th minute: As Ryden attempted to cut out a cutback pass from Rising FC, his effort inadvertently redirected into his own net.
SLC: Andrew Brody (Masta Kacher), 84th minute: Fielding a ball inside the box from Kacher, Brody took a touch a rifled a shot off the crossbar and down over the line to seal the 4-1 scoreline.
KEY SAVES AN DEFENSIVE STOPS:
SLC: Jake Leeker, 70th minute: A ball played across the box found a wide-open Chris Cortez – who leads Rising FC in goals in 2018 – who looked destined to score but his first-time effort from six yards was slammed into Leeker’s palm denying the big striker his 10th of the year.
NOTES:
- The Monarchs move to 9-0-1 on home soil this year, 8-0-1 all-time at Zions Bank Stadium.
- DF Andrew Brody returned to the Monarchs starting group with his start at left back. Brody missed the match in San Antonio due to a small injury.
- Sebastian Velasquez and Chandler Hoffman now lead the team with seven goals apiece through 21 matches played in 2018.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Phoenix Rising FC
Date: July 28, 2018
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 1,743
Weather: Sunny and 95 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 2 2 4
Phoenix Rising FC 0 1 1
SLC: Sebastian Velasquez (Maikel Chang), 37’
SLC: Mike da Fonte (Own Goal), 43’
SLC: Chandler Hoffman (Justin Portillo), 65’
PHX: Kalen Ryden (Own Goal), 76’
SLC: Andrew Brody (Masta Kacher), 84’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-3-3): Jake Leeker; Adam Henley, Taylor Peay, Kalen Ryden, Andrew Brody; Justin Portillo, Jack Blake (Charlie Adams, 78’), Sebastian Velasquez; Maikel Chang, Chandler Hoffman (Juan Ignacio Mare 86’), Josh Heard (Masta Kacher, 74’)
Subs not used: Dan Jackson, James Moberg, Konrad Plewa, Jose Hernandez
Phoenix Rising FC (4-5-1): Carl Woszczynski; Kody Wakasa (Alessandro Riggi, 67’), Joseph Farrell, Mike da Fonte, Amadou Dia; Jason Johnson, Soloman Asante, James Musa (Collin Fernandez, 72’), Gladson Awako, Billy Forbes (Kevon Lambert, 45’); Chris Cortez
Subs not used: Zac Lubin, Doueugui Mala, Evan Waldrep, Kevaughn Frater
Stats Summary: SLC/PHX
Shots: 17 / 14
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 2 / 8
Fouls: 15 / 11
Offside: 3 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Josh Heard (cauion) 45’
SLC – Adam Henley (caution) 60
SLC – Maikel Chang (caution) 61’
PHX – Gladson Awako (ejection) 62’
SLC – Justin Portillo (caution) 77’
PHX – Mike da Fonte (caution) 78’
PHX – Carl Woszczynski (caution) 85’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistant Referees: Joshua Haimes, Karsten Gillwald
4th Official: Morgan Ware
