SANDY, Utah (Thursday, June 19, 2017) – Real Monarchs (12-1-0, 36 points) wrote themselves into the USL record books as they registered their ninth consecutive victory by downing Reno 1868 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Real Monarchs carried their best start to a season with their 12th win on the year while keeping a perfect record in the friendly confines of Rio Tinto Stadium.
The first half of action saw both sides create chances on either end of the field but the breakthrough came through MF Andrew Brody as he finished off a counter attack halfway through the first 45 minutes. Reno equalized 12 minutes later when Antoine Hoppenot tucked home smoothly from a solo effort.
Just before the stroke of halftime DF Taylor Peay ensured the Monarchs would enter the break with the lead when he headed home a Velasquez corner kick for his second goal of 2017. Peay’s second of the year would prove to be the game winner.
The second half saw Monarchs GK Lalo Fernandez forced into multiple highlight reel saves to keep his team in the lead. Ultimately Fernandez’s performance made the difference down the stretch for the Monarchs en-route to the record setting win.
Head Coach Mark Briggs sits 11-1-0 all-time as head man of the Monarchs as he continues to make his mark on the USL.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will travel to Arizona to take on Didier Drogba and Phoenix Rising F.C. for the second time in 2017 June 24 (7:30 pm MST kickoff). In the first meeting of the season between the two sides, Real Monarchs topped Phoenix 2-0 behind goals from Chandler Hoffman and Omar Holness. The match will be the second of three meetings between the sides for the 2017 season.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SLC – Andrew Brody (Sebastian Velazquez) 22nd minute: SLC midfielder Ricardo Velazco stripped the ball from a Reno defender and found Sebastian Velasquez early. Velasquez picked his head up to find a streaking Brody down the right side. Brody cut to find space before slotting home his second goal in as many games.
RNO – Antoine Hoppenot (Chris Wehan) 34th minute: A long ball played from midfield found the feet of Hoppenot who did well to turn his defender inside the box before he slotted home the equalizing goal.
SLC – Taylor Peay (Sebastian Velasquez) 45th+2 minute: SLC midfielder Sebastian Velasquez whipped in a wonderfully placed corner as Peay made his run to the near post to nod home the go-ahead goal.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
SLC – Lalo Fernandez, 10th minute: Reno striker Antoine Hoppenot broke free from the flank and attempted a shot on goal from an acute angle. The SLC goalkeeper did well as he put his face on the line to make the save and clear the danger.
SLC – Lalo Fernandez, 42nd minute: A through ball played into the path of Reno striker Dane Kelly forced the SLC goalkeeper to close the angle of the shot. Fernandez did well to make himself big and deflect the shot out for a corner kick.
SLC – Nick Besler, 56th minute: Reno attack did well to create a chance from nothing as striker Lindo Mfeka attempted a shot from close range. Besler did well to step in front of the shot to deflect out for a corner kick.
RNO – Andrew Tarbell, 60th minute: SLC midfielder Ricardo Velazco found himself with a bit of space 20 yards from goal. Velazco decided to have a shot himself as he drove a low shot towards the near post bu the attempt was handled well by Tarbell.
SLC – Lalo Fernandez, 70th minute: Reno midfielder Lindo Mfeka wriggled free from his defender to have a shot on goal but Fernandez’s quick reactions were enough to keep the strike at bay.
SLC – Lalo Fernandez, 76th minute: Reno midfielder Lindo Mfeka struck a laser of a free kick towards Fernandez’s far post but the effort was parried well by the SLC goalkeeper.
SLC – Lalo Fernandez, 88th minute: Another big save from the SLC goalkeeper kept the game in the Monarchs favor by making himself big to block an Antoine Hoppenot strike inside the box.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs set a league record for consecutive wins after securing their ninth in a row in the win over Reno. With the win the Monarchs surpass the previous record set by Orlando City SC in 2014.
- RSL men David Horst, Ricardo Velazco, José Hernández, Omar Holness and Lalo Fernandez were all in the 18 for the Monarchs with Horst making his second consecutive start for the USL side.
- SLC midfielder Sebastian Velazquez now shares the lead for assists in the USL with six.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. Reno 1868
Date: June 17, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 2,321
Weather: Sunny and 91 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 2 0 2
Reno 1868 1 0 1
SLC –Andrew Brody (Sebastian Velazquez) 22’
RNO – Antoine Hoppenot (Chris Wehan) 34’’
SLC – Taylor Peay (Sebastian Velasquez) 45th+2’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Taylor Peay, Michael Gallagher, David Horst (Max Lachowecki, 61’), Kyle Curinga (James Moberg, 82’); Nick Besler, Omar Holness; Ricardo Velazco (Daniel Haber, 68’), Sebastian Velasquez, Andrew Brody; Chandler Hoffman
Subs not used: Connor Sparrow, Karsten Hanlin, José Hernández, Jonel Desire
Reno 1868: (4-4-2): Andrew Tarbell; Brent Richards, Jimmy Ockford, Brenton Griffiths (Luis Fernandes 73’), Jordan Murrell; Matt LaGrassa, Jackson Yueill (Seth Casiple, 59’), Chris Wehan, Lindo Mfeka (Junior Burgos, 79’); Antoine Hoppenot, Dane Kelly
Subs not used: Russell Klabough, Matheus Silva, Brian Brown, Mackenzie Pridham
Stats Summary: RM / RNO
Shots: 5 / 13
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Saves: 5 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 8
Fouls: 14 / 11
Offside: 1 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RNO – Lindo Mfeka (caution) 18’
RNO – Jimmy Ockford (caution) 80’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Robi Hullner
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Joshua Mills
4th Official: Brad Jensen
