REAL MONARCHS SLC SNAP WINLESS RUN, DOWN OKC ENERGY FC 2-1
Sebastian Saucedo Scores Brace on Either Side of Halftime in Victory; Real Monarchs Winless Run Ends at Seven Matches; Single Regular-Season Match Remains Ahead of 2018 USL Cup Playoffs
HERRIMAN, Utah (Wednesday, October 3, 2018) – Real Monarchs SLC (18-12-3, 57 points, 4 West) snapped its seven-match winless skid Wednesday night, claiming a 2-1 victory over Oklahoma City Energy FC.
From the opening whistle the Monarchs went at OKC, forcing Energy FC goalkeeper Cody Laurendi into a pair of early saves. The Monarchs found the opening goal in the 17th minute when MF Sebastian Saucedo latched onto a brilliant layoff from FW Chandler Hoffman and fired a first-time volley into the far post from just inside the penalty area. However, OKC found the equalizer when Deshorn Brown was judged to have been tripped up inside the area, resulting in a penalty kick. Alex Dixon converted the spot kick, sending GK Connor Sparrow the wrong way in the 22nd minute bring the match level.
The Monarchs went into the halftime break having taken 12 shots but settled for a share of the spoils at the break.
Real Monarchs flew out of halftime, finding its second goal again through Saucedo who easily tucked home a MF Maikel Chang cross in the 48th minute. For the remainder of the half, the staunch defense from the Monarchs paved the way for the 2-1 win to help the club break its seven-match winless streak.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will close out the regular-season on the road against Fresno FC on Saturday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SLC: Sebastian Saucedo (Chandler Hoffman), 17th minute: A long cross played to the back post found Hoffman with space. Hoffman did well to touch a first-time pass back to Saucedo who ran onto the ball and rifled it into the far side netting with a thunderous volley.
OKC: Alex Dixon (Penalty), 22nd minute: Breaking down the left side of the box, Monarchs goalkeeper Connor Sparrow tripped up Deshorn Brown and the referee pointed to the spot. Dixon calmly sent Sparrow the wrong way for the game-tying goal.
SLC: Sebastian Saucedo (Maikel Chang), 48th minute: Clever interplay around the top of the box found Chang streaking inside the penalty area. Chang hammered a low cross back towards the penalty spot where an onrushing Saucedo calmly finished the ball.
NOTES:
- Stanley Okumu made his first start and appearance for the Monarchs.
- Maikel Chang now has nine assists for the Monarchs on the year, extending his all-time tally atop the USL to 31 career assists.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Oklahoma City Energy FC
Date: October 3, 2018
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 1,170
Weather: 60 degrees and partly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 1 1 2
Energy FC 1 0 1
SLC: Sebastian Saucedo (Chandler Hoffman), 17’
OKC: Alex Dixon (Penalty), 22’
SLC: Sebastian Saucedo (Maikel Chang) 48’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Connor Sparrow; James Moberg, Stanley Okumu (Konrad Plewa, 83’), Kalen Ryden, Andrew Brody; Pablo Ruiz, Charlie Adams, Sebastian Velasquez (Jack Blake, 89’); Maikel Chang, Chandler Hoffman, Sebastian Saucedo (Josh Heard, 90’+2)
Subs not used: Jake Leeker, Jose Hernandez, Masta Kacher, Juan Ignacio Mare
Energy FC (4-5-1): Cody Laurendi; Christian Ibeagha, Atiba Harris, Justin Chavez, Kyle Hyland; Callum Ross, Philip Rasmussen, Marco Bustos (Jose Barril, 79’), Jon Brown, Alex Dixon; Deshorn Brown
Subs not used: Bryan Byars, Richard Dixon, Drew Beckie, Miguel Gonzalez, Max Gunderson, Shawn Mclaws
Stats Summary: SLC/OKC
Shots: 19 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 5 / 6
Offside: 1 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Connor Sparrow (caution) 21’
OKC – Callum Ross (caution) 75’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Assistant Referees: Joshua Haimes, Kali Smith
4th Official: Karsten Gilwald
