Loss Sees Real Monarchs Drop First Home Match of 2019 Season; MF Maikel Chang Notches Team-Leading Fifth Goal; MF Josh Heard Scores First of Season
HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, May 4, 2019) – Real Monarchs SLC (3-4-2, 11 points)fell for the first time at home in the 2019 season 4-2 to Fresno FC on Saturday afternoon.
MFs Maikel Chang and Josh Heard both tallied goals on the day, but a late surge from the Foxes downed the Monarchs in Herriman.
Chang put the Monarchs up on the score board early in the first half as MF Andrew Brody took a strong run down the side of the pitch that ended through Chang’s redirected shot at the top of the penalty box. Fresno responded quickly after the Foxes earned a freekick near the end line that was converted through a headed effort to end the second half level, with a goal apiece.
The Monarchs saw a rough second half as DF Kalen Ryden missed an unfortunate clearance that ended in the back of the Monarchs goal to push Fresno into the lead. Fresno FC’s Christian Chaney put away his second goal for the visitors with a quick tap in inside six yards. In the dying moments of the second half, Heard snuck in a clever backheel to pull one back for the Monarchs, sparking to life the Monarchs attack and they began taking quick chances towards goal.
The match was put to rest however, as Fresno FC tallied its fourth in the afternoon to close out the match with a 4-2 score line in favor of the visitors.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs SLC gets a long rest, as it takes a week break before returning to action in Oklahoma City against OKC Energy FC. The matchup is set for Saturday, May 18, where the evening kickoff from Taft Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLC: Maikel Chang (Andrew Brody), 17th minute – Andrew Brody took a decisive run down the right side of the pitch before cutting a low pass in towards the top of the penalty area. Maikel Chang was perfectly placed to tap one shot in
FRS: Christian Chaney (Emir Alihodzic), 27th minute – The Foxes picked up a freekick near the far corner, which Alihodzic sent in to the crowded middle. Chaney was able to get a head above the rest and tap it to the far post to level out the scoring.
FRS: Kalen Ryden (Own Goal), 59th minute – An unfortunate mishap in front of the Monarchs goal line sees Kalen Ryden get tripped up with the ball while trying to make a clearance. In the end, the ball passed over the line, adding to the Fresno tally.
FRS: Christian Chaney (Jemal Jackson), 61st minute – Jemal Jackson took a quick break around the Monarchs backline, passing a low shot across the front of the net that found the foot of Christian Chaney. Chaney put away his brace, redirecting the pass with a tap in at the center of the frame.
SLC: Josh Heard (Luis Arriaga), 84th minute – A spark of life shone in the Monarchs attack in the dying moments of the match as Luis Arriaga made a play into the middle of the box, which Josh Heard sneaked in a goal with a clever backheel to pull one back on Fresno and keep the game alive.
FRS: Jemal Johnson (Qudus Lawal), 90th minute – The Foxes put the Monarchs attack to rest with a late minute goal that saw Jemal Johnson go one on one with GK David Ochoa. Johnson took his shot, which Ochoa was able to get a touch to, but was not enough as it found the back of the net to ultimately put the game to rest.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
SLC: David Ochoa, 39th minute: Christian Chaney found an opportunity to make a spectacle of a shot, by coming off the ground for an attempt at a bicycle kick that was aimed for the lower left corner. David Ochoa read the play the entire way, easily making an easy stop.
FRS: CJ Cochran, 78th minute: From a 25-yard distance away from the net, Ricardo Avila rocketed a shot that seemed destined to find the find the back of the net on the right side. Cochran made a massive dive however to make the reach and parry the ball out to keep the Fresno lead.
NOTES:
- MF Ricardo Avila made his return to the Starting XI after picking up a knee injury during the dominant victory of LA Galaxy II at the end of March.
- The loss to Fresno FC marks the first loss at Zions Bank Stadium in the 2019 season.
- MF Maikel Chang now leads the team with five goals on the season.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Fresno FC
Date: May 4, 2019
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 2,685
Weather: 68 and sunny
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 1 1 2
Fresno FC 1 3 4
SLC – Maikel Chang (Andrew Brody), 17’
FRS – Christian Chaney (Emir Alihodzic), 27’
FRS – Kalen Ryden (OG), 59’
FRS – Christian Chaney (Jackson), 61’
SLC – Josh Heard (Luis Arriaga), 84’
FRS – Jemal Johnson (Qudus Lawal), 90’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Kalen Ryden, Stanley Okumu, Steve Jasso (Josh Heard, 71’), Delentz Pierre; Tate Schmitt, Maikel Chang, Andrew Brody, Ricardo Avila, Jordan Pena (Masta Kacher, 71’); Douglas Martinez (Luis Arriaga, 26’)
Subs not used: James Moberg, Noah Powder, Konrad Plewa, Evan Finney
Fresno FC (4-3-2-1): CJ Cochran; Michael Daly, Ramón Del Campo, Alex Cooper (Diego Casillas, 50’), Zachary Ellis-Hayden; Elijah Martin (Jemal Johnson, 69’), Jackson, Emir Alihodzic, Arun Basuljevic, Hiroki Kurimoto; Christian Chaney (Qudus Lawal, 76’)
Subs not used: Sam Strong, Jorge Escamilla, Sam Howard, Juan Pablo Caffa
Stats Summary: SLC/FRS
Shots: 16 / 17
Shots on Goal: 4 / 8
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 2
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 0 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Ricardo Avila (Caution) 87’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Dejan Susak
Assistant Referees: Karsten Gillwald, Daniel Fallis
4th Official: Scott Jones
