REAL MONARCHS SLC SHUTOUT BY SWITCHBACKS FC 2-0
Second Half Strikes Sink Playoff-Bound Monarchs in Herriman; Real Monarchs Now Winless in Its Last Seven Matches; Club Moves to 12-2-2 All-Time at Zions Bank Stadium; Club Welcomes OKC Energy FC to Utah on Oct. 3
HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, September 29, 2018) – Real Monarchs SLC (17-12-3, 54 points, 4 West) fell to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-0 on Saturday night, extending the club’s winless run to seven matches.
Throughout the first half the Monarchs controlled possession and applied immediate pressure to the Switchbacks FC back line. The largest aggressor in the first half for the Monarchs was MF Masta Kacher who nearly scored twice, but Switchbacks FC goalkeeper Moise Pouaty generated two incredible saves to deny Kacher against his old side.
Early in the second half the Monarchs nearly found the breakthrough when MF Charlie Adams’ freekick from 35 yards rattled the cross bar as the follow-up effort couldn’t be turned home. Just two minutes later, MF Sebastian Velasquez blast a shot from distance that again struck the woodwork, keeping the match scoreless. The visitors would strike first in the 63rd minute when AJ Ajeakwa slammed home an effort from a tight angle for the lead.
The Monarchs pressed for the equalizer through the remainder of the second half, only to see Pouaty keep the Utah side at bay time and time again. Colorado Springs then doubled its advantage in second half stoppage time when Martin Maybin struck from close range in the 91st minute.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will remain at home to face Oklahoma City Energy FC on Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
COS: AJ Ajeakwa (Luke Vercollone), 63rd minute: Cutting into the box off a pass from Vercollone, AJeakwa fired a left-footed shot from a tight angle into the bottom corner of the far post for the game’s first goal.
COS: Martin Maybin (Shane Malcom), 90th minute + 1: Streaking towards the endline, Malcom centered the ball to the top of the six-yard box where Maybin tapped home into the far post.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
COS: Moise Pouaty, 27th minute: With space at the top of the box, Monarchs midfielder Masta Kachr tried a curling shot towards the far post. The ball looked goal-bound, but Pouaty did well to dive backwards to tip the ball over the bar to keep the match scoreless.
NOTES:
- MF Sebastian Velasquez returned to the starting XI, playing 77 minutes in the loss to Colorado Springs.
- The Monarchs move to 12-2-2 all-time at Zions Bank Stadium with the club now winless in its last seven matches.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: September 29, 2018
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 2,386
Weather: 83 degrees and partly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 0 0 0
Switchbacks FC 0 2 2
COS: AJ Ajeakwa (Luke Vercollone) 63’
COS: Martin Maybin (Shane Malcom) 90’ +1
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Jake Leeker; Adam Henley, James Moberg, Kalen Ryden, Andrew Brody; Charlie Adams, Jack Blake, Sebastian Velasquez (Jose Hernandez, 77’); Maikel Chang (Josh Heard, 76’), Chandler Hoffman, Masta Kacher (Juan Ignacio Mare, 84’)
Subs not used: Connor Sparrow, Rhys Williams, Konrad Plewa, Jamal Charles
Switchbacks FC (4-3-3): Moise Pouaty; Jordan Burt, Pascal Eboussi, Jamal Jack, Josh Suggs; Jordan Schweitzer, Sam Hamilton (Taylor Hunter, 86’), Luke Vercollone (Karsten Hanlin, 76’); Saeed Robinson, Shane Malcom, AJ Ajeakwa (Martin Maybin, 83’)
Subs not used: Steward Ceus, Ayukokata Tambe
Stats Summary: SLC/COS
Shots: 17 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 2 / 6
Corner Kicks: 9 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 11
Offside: 1 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Masta Kacher (caution) 53’
SLC – Kalen Ryden (caution) 90’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referees: Daniel Spicer-Escalante, Joshua Mills
4th Official: Kristi Mak
