Tukwila, W.A. (Saturday, April 22, 2017) – Real Monarchs (4-1-0, 12 points, 2nd West) returned to their winning ways with a 3-1 offensive explosion against Seattle Sounders FC 2. The win is the club’s first-ever victory at Starfire Stadium, but the second of the young season in the Pacific Northwest, after a March 25 season-opening victory in Portland.
The Monarchs controlled the first 45 minutes of play and opened the scoring in the 35th minute from 12-yards out. Rodrigue Ele clobbered RSL MF Jordan Allen inside the box as service was sent in from the right side of the area. FW Chandler Hoffman converted the penalty, sending goalkeeper Tyler Miller the wrong way.
On the other side of halftime, Sounders 2 fought back to equalize, leveling the score in the 48th minute. RSL
GK Lalo Fernandez charged out to deal with a set piece sent into the mixer. Unfortunately, his punch found David Olsen at the top of the box, and the Sounders Academy graduate guided the ball into the exposed goal.
But the Utah side continued to apply pressure, earning the game-winner in the 68th minute. The hosts couldn’t deal with service after two missed clearances saw the ball at the top of the box. Rookie RSL MF Jose Hernandez, active for the game’s entirety in place of injured Monarchs catalyst Sebastian Velasquez, scored the eventual game-winner with a hesitation move before burying a lefty opportunity past a diving Miller.
Monarchs captain and MF Nick Besler doubled the visitor's advantage in the 73rd minute. Hoffman was sent in behind the S2 defense, and as the center backs collapsed, the forward found Besler on a run down the middle, where he made no mistake from 12 yards out.
HC Mark Briggs used all three of his available substitutions, but he was forced to turn to his bench earlier than he might have liked. MF Andrew Brody entered the match for a hobbled Jordan Allen in the 44th minute, suffering after-effects from the PK foul. MF Jesus Leal replaced RSL MF Sunny after the first-team regular put in a solid 74 minutes of action. MF Chase Minter replaced MF Daniel Haber in the 83rd minute.
Monarchs GK Fernandez had an active match in goal, his 46th in USL all-time. The RSL Academy product collected four saves for his third victory of the year.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs return home to Rio Tinto Stadium next Saturday against Swope Park Rangers (4:00 p.m. MT, Sat., April 29). DF Emilio Orozco’s 8th-minute tally was the difference in the club's lone previous meeting last August in Sandy. TICKETS available at www.RSL.com/Monarchs or by calling 844.Real.Tix.
GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM – Chandler Hoffman (Penalty), 35th minute: Sounders 2 defender Rodrigue Ele took down Jordan Allen in the box right as the Monarchs midfielder was letting the ball go through the area. Chandler Hoffman converted the ensuing spot kick, sending Tyler Miller the wrong way.
S2 — David Olsen, 48th minute: Lalo Fernandez charged out to deal with a set piece sent into the mixer, but it popped out to the top of the box. David Olsen finished into an empty net.
RM — Jose Hernandez, 68th minute: Rodrigue Ele was at the center of the action once again for S2. Jose Hernandez stole it off the defender’s foot and punished the hosts with a superb finish.
RM — Nick Besler (Chandler Hoffman), 73rd minute: Kyle Curinga sent Chandler Hoffman in behind the Seattle defense. As the center backs caught up to the forward, Nick Besler made a run down the middle. Hoffman played in Besler, who made no mistake with his finish.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RM — Lalo Fernandez, 3rd minute: Sam Rodgers pressed forward to midfield and chipped Shandon Hopeau into the penalty area. Lalo Fernandez saved the forward’s left-footed shot from a tight angle.
RM — Nick Besler, 27th minute: Ray Saari launched in service on a set piece from midfield. The Monarchs initially dealt with it, but the defensive header fell to Sam Rodgers who nodded it on frame over the charging Lalo Fernandez. Midfielder Nick Besler covered for his keeper and cleared it off the line.
S2 — Felix Chenkam, 32nd minute: Felix Chenkam was on the receiving end of a four-pass combination in the attacking third. The forward beat his defender but couldn’t steer it on frame.
RM — Nick Besler, 34th minute: Jose Hernandez’s corner took a bounce to the marked Nick Besler. The captain popped it over his mark and blasted it just over the goal.
S2 — Tyler Miller, 62nd minute: On a one-two combination, Chandler Hoffman ended up with an opportunity provided by Andrew Brody. Hoffman’s chance needed more pace, as Tyler Miller corralled the effort easily.
S2 — Tyler Miller, 90+’: Miller denied Chandler Hoffman from the spot right before the final whistle. The goalkeeper dove to his right to push the shot wide.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs are 2-2-1 overall against Sounders 2.
- RSL regulars Sunny and Jordan Allen featured in the USL side on rehabilitation stints. The two have been sidelined from the first team with an injured hamstring and quad strain, respectively. Sunny went 74 minutes, while Allen left the action early in the 44th minute.
- With his penalty kick goal in the 35th minute, FW Chandler Hoffman took sole possession of the club’s scoring race with three goals this season.
- The Monarchs were without the club’s 2017 leader in assists, MF Charlie Adams. Adams was serving a one-game suspension for a red card against Colorado.
- The USL side has now scored multiple goals in four of the club's five games this season, the lone exception last week's 1-2 loss at Colorado Springs.
Match: Real Monarchs at Seattle Sounders FC 2
Date: April 22, 2017
Venue: Starfire Stadium; Tukwila, Washington
Weather: 55 degrees and light rain
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 2 3
Seattle Sounders FC 2 0 1 1
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Max Lachowecki, Michael Gallagher, James Moberg, Kyle Curinga; Nick Besler, Sunny (Jesus Leal 74’); Daniel Haber (Chase Minter 84’), Jose Hernandez, Jordan Allen (Andrew Brody 44’); Chandler Hoffman
Subs not used: Connor Sparrow, Taylor Peay, Emilio Orozco, Emmanuel Ocran
Seattle Sounders FC 2 (4-2-3-1): Tyler Miller; Brian Nana-Sinkam, Rodrigue Ele, Sam Rogers, Riley Grant; Ray Saari, Francisco Narbon; David Olsen, Shandon Hopeau (Jamie Dimitroff 45’), Lorenzo Ramos (Irvin Parra 45’); Felix Chenkam (Javorn Stevens 74’)
Subs not used: Sam Fowler, Denso Ulysse, Ethan Lotenero, Paul Rothrock
Stats Summary: SEA / RM
Shots: 10 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 7
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 3
Fouls: 17 / 16
Offside: 3 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
S2 — Felix Chenkam (Caution) - 27’
S2 — Ray Saari (Caution) - 55’
RM — Jesus Leal (Caution) - 80’
S2 — Irvin Parra (Caution) - 80’
RM — Chase Minter (Bad Foul) - 84’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Seth Martin, Chad Stewart
4th Official: Mike Hohnholz
