Sandy, UT (Saturday, April 1, 2017) – Real Monarchs SLC (2-0-0, 6 points) dominated visitors Phoenix Rising FC 2-0 in the club’s 2017 USL home opener before 1,771 at Rio Tinto Stadium, earning Head Coach Mark Briggs his first win after replacing Mike Petke on Thursday.
Monarchs FW Chandler Hoffman opened his account in just his second game with the club, finding the back of the net in first-half stoppage time from the penalty spot. The former MLS and Louisville City striker powered his shot home, sending Phoenix GK Josh Cohen the wrong way. Monarchs MF Chase Minter won the spot kick by cutting across AJ Gray on the edge of the penalty area.
After coming on in the game’s 60th minute, RSL MF Omar Holness – one of three MLS players loaned to the Monarchs for the weekend – scored quickly after coming on, as the Jamaican in-ternational buried his chance on a scorcher into the roof of the net past Cohen. RSL academy product Andrew Brody provided service on the Holness goal.
GK Lalo Fernandez started and played the full 90 between the pipes for Briggs’ side, earning the clean sheet behind a total team performance that saw Phoenix struggle to provide any buildup or danger. Rookie RSL DF Reagan Dunk entered the match late in the game for his professional debut.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will host Reno 1868 FC (7:00 MT, Thursday, April 6) later this week at Rio Tinto Stadium in the club’s Week 3 tilt, as the Nevada club makes its first trip to the Rocky Mountains in its inaugural season. TICKETS available at www.RSL.com/Monarchs or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM – Chandler Hoffman (Penalty), 45+ minute: Chase Minter drew the penalty in first half stoppage time. AJ Gray took down Minter after he cut across the defender in the box. Chandler Hoffman sent Josh Cohen the wrong way to covert the penalty.
RM — Omar Holness (Andrew Brody), 76th minute: Operating at the top of the penalty area, Andrew Brody sucked in the Phoenix defense to find Omar Holness making a far post run on the right side. Holness made no mistake with his right-footed finish, going top shelf to beat Josh Co-hen.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
PHX — Josh Cohen, 29th minute: Monarchs midfielder Andrew Brody found space down the right channel and found Chase Minter near the penalty spot. Josh Cohen comfortably made the save diving down to his right.
RM — Andrew Brody, 30th minute: Minter returned the favor for Brody, but Brody’s glancing header from 10 yards out flew wide.
PHX — Josh Cohen, 48th minute: Charlie Adams send in a free kick from 45 yards out. Emilio Orozco’s knock down header fell safely into Cohen’s hands.
RM — Lalo Fernandez, 59th minute: After a giveaway near midfield Phoenix forward Shaun Wright-Phillips slipped Blair Gavin in behind the defense and into the penalty area. Lalo Fernan-dez stopped Gavin’s left footed shot without a rebound.
PHX — Josh Cohen, 67th minute: Monarchs midfielder Omar Holness spotted Brody in transi-tion. Cohen was equal to the task, denying Brody’s effort as he rushed off the goal line.
NOTES:
- RM Head Coach Mark Briggs earned his first win in charge. Briggs took over for Mike Petke, who took the same position with Real Salt Lake.
- Forward Chandler Hoffman scored his first goal with Real Monarchs in his second appearance for the club.
- Midfielder Omar Holness scored his first career goal with the Monarchs in his eighth appear-ance with the club.
Match: Phoenix Rising FC at Real Monarchs
Date: April 1, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 1,771
Weather: Sunny and 60 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 1 1 2
Phoenix Rising FC 0 0 0
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Max Lachowecki, Emilio Orozco, James Moberg, Kyle Curinga; Nick Besler, Charlie Adams (Reagan Dunk 83’), Chase Minter (Omar Holness 60’), Sebastian Velasquez, Andrew Brody; Chandler Hoffman (Daniel Haber 86’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Michael Gallagher, Jesus Leal, Skyler Milne
Phoenix Rising FC: (4-3-3): Josh Cohen; Peter Ramage, JJ Greer, Jordan Stewart, Victor Vasquez (Alessandri Riggi 78’); AJ Gray, Matt Watson, Romilio Hernandez (Blair Gavin 41’); Jason Johnson (Matt Hurlow 51’), Shaun Wright-Phillips, Omar Bravo
Subs not used: Carl Woszczynski, Luke Rooney, Chris Cortez, Mike Seth
Stats Summary: RM / PHX
Shots: 11 / 7
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 9
Offside: 1 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
PHX – Matt Watson (caution) 36’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Michael Radchuk
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Joshua Mills
4th Official: Brad Jensen
www.RSL.com/Monarchs
