REAL MONARCHS SLC STUTTER AT OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC, FALL 2-3
Comeback Effort from Monarchs Not Enough as OKC Energy FC Outlast West Leaders; MF Jack Blake Notches His First Monarchs Goal; Monarchs Remain Winless at Taft Stadium in Four Seasons
HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, August 11, 2018) – Real Monarchs SLC (15-6-2, 47 points, 1 West) mounted a near-miraculous second half comeback at Oklahoma City Energy FC on Saturday evening, but ultimately fell to the hosts 2-3.
The Monarchs fell behind in just the first minute of the match when a flicked ball at midfield from Energy FC midfielder Jose Barril – who would go on to claim three assists on the night – found the run of Christian Volesky who separated himself from the Monarchs back line and tucked the ball past GK Jake Leeker. The hosts would go on to double its advantage in the 27th minute when Alex Dixon’s driven effort found the far bottom corner of the net to place OKC comfortably in front at the interval.
Interim Head Coach Jamison Olave went to his bench twice during the halftime break, bringing on DF Andrew Brody and MF Masta Kacher in an effort to bring his side back into the match. The Monarchs found the equalizer in the 58th minute when MF Charlie Adams’ deflected free kick found the back of the net to cut the advantage in half. Not two minutes later, MF Jack Blake unleashed a thunderous strike from 35 yards that swerved to find the far side netting, bringing the match level. The Monarchs would then try and find the go-ahead goal that never came.
In the 83rd minute, OKC retook the lead through Monty Patterson when his volley beat Leeker at the far post to solidify the final score line.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs return to Zions Bank Stadium on August 8th to host Tulsa Roughnecks FC at 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
OKC: Christian Volesky (Jose Barril), 1st minute – A flicked ball at the center stripe from Barril found the run of Volesky who beat Monarchs defender Michael Gallagher to the ball. Volesky did well to separate angle himself on a streaking run toward goal to calmly slot the ball past goalkeeper Jake Leeker for the early lead.
OKC: Alex Dixon (Jose Barril), 27th minute: A through ball the Monarchs defense was unable to cut out found the run of Dixon into the penalty area. Dixon took a touch and lined up a driven shot that found the far post to double OKC’s advantage.
SLC: Charlie Adams, 58th minute: Notching his second goal in as many games, Adams hit a driven free kick that took a deflection off the wall and past Laurendi to cut OKC’s lead in half.
SLC: Jack Blake, 60th minute: As the ball popped out to Blake 35 yards from goal, Blake took a touch to set up a driven half-volley that swerved to find its way into the far side-netting for the match-tying goal.
OKC: Monty Patterson (Jose Barril), 83rd minute: A long ball from midfield from Barrial escaped a headed clearance from Monarchs defender Kalen Ryden. Patterson did well to take the ball down and fire a left footed volley past Leeker for the winning strike.
NOTES:
- RSL defender Demar Phillips returned from injury to make his first appearance since April 7th in RSL’s 2-1 win over Vancouver.
- With the loss to OKC, the Monarchs have now surpassed its loss total from a season ago, with its sixth loss coming to Oklahoma City.
- MF Jack Blake’s thunderous strike from 35 yards was his first goal for the Monarchs since arriving on loan at the beginning of the summer from Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC at OKC Energy FC
Date: August 11, 2018
Venue: Taft Stadium; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Attendance: 5,616
Weather: Clear and 83 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 0 2 2
Energy FC 2 1 3
OKC: Christian Volesky (Jose Barril) 1’
OKC: Alex Dixon (Jose Barril) 27’
SLC: Charlie Adams 58’
SLC: Jack Blake 60’
OKC: Monty Patterson (Jose Barril) 83’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Jake Leeker; Adam Henley, Michael Gallagher, Kalen Ryden, Demar Phillips (Andrew Brody, 46’); Jack Blake (Juan Ignacio Mare, 86’), Justin Portillo, Charlie Adams; Maikel Chang (Masta Kacher, 46’), Joshua Heard; Chandler Hoffman.
Subs not used: Dan Jackson, Konrad Plewa, James Moberg, Jose Hernandez.
Energy FC (4-4-2): Cody Laurendi; Christian Ibeagha, Drew Beckie, Atiba Harris, Kyle Hyland; Justin Chavez, Phillip Rasmussen (Monty Patterson, 77’), Jose Barril (Juan Guzman, 88’), Alex Dixon; Christian Volesky (Jon Brown, 77’), Adam Jahn
Subs not used: Bryan Byars, Richard Dixon, Miguel Gonzalez, Jaime Siaj
Stats Summary: OKC/SLC
Shots: 11 / 9
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 11
Offside: 2 / 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
OKC: Jose Barril (Caution) 62’
SLC: Juan Ignacio Mare (caution) 90’+1
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referees: Kevin Lock, Seth Barton
4th Official: Matthew Corrigan
