HERRIMAN, Utah - (Saturday, March 23, 2019) - Real Monarchs SLC (1-0-2, 5 points) earned its first win under Head Coach Martín Vasquez with a dominant 5-0 showing over LA Galaxy II on Saturday afternoon. MFs Ricardo Avila and Maikel Chang, FW Lionel Abate Etoundi, and DF Steve Jasso all found the back of the net, while the Monarchs backline earned its second consecutive clean sheet. Jasso and MF Jordan Pena added their names to the list of Monarchs to debut this season in the victory.
The start of the match saw each team on level footing as they fought to fall in to rhythm, each taking turns with possession. The Monarchs struck first in the 25th minute through Avila, after a corner kick left the ball at his feet which he rifled to the back net.
The second half saw Los Dos come out of the gates swinging, but the Monarchs defense was able to keep the offense at bay. The remainder of the match was the Monarchs show as Chang picked up back-to-back goals for the brace and Etoundi and Jasso both scored within minutes of coming onto the field.
The Monarchs ran rampant after LA Galaxy II earned a red card in the 72nd minute, ushering four unanswered goals in the second half to solidify the 5-0 win at Zions Bank Stadium.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs heads out to revive I-15 rivalry with Las Vegas Lights FC. The match is set for Saturday, March 30, with an evening 8:30 p.m. MT kickoff from Cashman Field.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLC: Ricardo Avila, 25th minute – Ricardo Avila opened up the scoring at Zions Bank Stadium, after the ball bounced around in the box from a corner kick. With an opening on hand, Avila took his shot and found the back of the net, putting the Monarchs up early.
SLC: Maikel Chang (Josh Heard), 60th minute – Off of the counter, Douglas Martinez hit the ball forward to Josh Heard who had nothing but green in front of him to make the run down the right side of the pitch, slipping the ball over to Maikel Chang at the center to easily hit the ball to the top of the net.
SLC: Maikel Chang, 72nd minute – Josh Heard found another run towards goal before drawing a red care foul from Diedie Traore. Chang took the resulting free kick at the top of the penalty area that found the top right corner.
SLC: Lionel Abate Etoundi (Maikel Chang), 79th minute – At the top of the penalty area, Chang slipped the ball over to Etoundi through the Galaxy backline. Etoundi found the opportunity to keep the ball on the ground and get the ball making an immediate impact after subbing, putting the ball in at the right post.
SLC: Steve Jasso, 86th minute – Just minutes after entering for his debut, Jasso put away an easy ball after Blake’s shot bounced off the post and into an open area for him to clean up.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
SLC: Noah Powder, 14th minute: Noah Powder shut down Emil Cuello, who nearly got a shot off near the penalty spot, but Powder got in with a quick clearance to save the net.
SLC: David Ochoa, 22nd minute: Ochoa came up big to shut out Jose Hernandez in a 1-on-1 situation after Cuello found himself with the ball behind the Monarchs backline.
NOTES:
- Real Monarchs SLC earned its first victory under Head Coach Martin Vasquez with the dominate 5-0 showing.
- RSL Academy products MF Jordan Pena and DF Steve Jasso both made their professional debuts. Pena started the match, while Jasso came on a substitute and put away a goal late in the second half.
- GK David Ochoa earned his second consecutive clean sheet, tallying three saves throughout the match.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs LA Galaxy II
Date: March 23, 2019
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 1,036
Weather: 52 degree, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 1 4 5
LA Galaxy II 0 0 0
SLC – Ricardo Avila, 25’
SLC – Maikel Chang (Josh Heard), 60’
SLC – Maikel Chang, 72’
SLC – Lionel Abate Etoundi (Maikel Chang), 79’
SLC – Steve Jasso, 86’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; James Moberg, Andrew Brody, Noah Powder, Stanley Okumu; Maikel Chang, Jack Blake, Josh Heard (Steve Jasso, 82’), Ricardo Avila (Masta Kacher, 46’), Jordan Pena; Douglas Martinez (Lionel Abate Etoundi, 77’)
Subs not used: Damian German, Sam Brown, Konrad Plewa, Evan Finney,
LA Galaxy II (4-4-2): Abraham Romero; Nate Shultz, Diedie Traore, Dave Romney, Tomas Hilliard-Arce; Carlos Harvey (Adrian Vera, 68’), Emil Cuello, Augustine Williams, 70’), Efrain Alvarez, Kai Koreniuk, Jose Hernandez (Justin Fiddes, 75’); Ethan Zubak
Subs not used: Nicholas DePuy Omar Ontiveros, Michael Gallagher, Eric Lopez
Stats Summary: SLC/LA
Shots: 16 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 0
Corner Kicks: 3 / 2
Fouls: 10 / 16
Offside: 2 / 4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LA – Emil Cuello (caution) 42’
SLC – Douglas Martinez (caution) 47’
SLC – Jack Blake (caution) 56’
SLC – David Ochoa (caution) 64’
LA – DieDie Traore (ejection) 71’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referees: Kali Smith, Karsten Gillwald
4th Official: Joshua Mills
