REAL MONARCHS SLC DRAWS 1-1 AGAINST OKC ENERGY FC
Tate Schmitt's Stoppage Time Equalizer Steals Point at Taft Stadium
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Saturday, May 18, 2019) - Real Monarchs SLC (3-4-3, 12 points) picked up a hard-fought point on the road against OKC Energy FC on Saturday as FW Tate Schmitt put away a last-second goal to equal out the scoring.
The Monarchs controlled the opening minutes of the match, applying pressure around the OKC net and putting its defense to the test. Throughout its possession, the Monarchs took multiple shots towards goal, including a run from MF Josh Heard, who sent a low cross to Schmitt but was blocked out by the OKC defense. The first half closed out with another opportunity from Schmitt who put away a headed effort but was flagged offside to go into the break level.
The match-up slowed down in the early goings of the second half but at the game opened up, each team found opportunities towards goal. DF Noah Powder had the first opportunity for the Monarchs as his headed effort towards goal floated just wide of the near post. It was Energy FC that got on the board first however as late in the second half, Cordell Cato took a chip over GK Andrew Putna that looked to be the deciding goal.
The Monarchs pressed in the dying moments of the match, and it looked as though OKC Energy FC would walk away with the full three points, but after Schmitt cleaned up the deflected shot after his header was blocked by Cody Laurendi, the Monarchs picked up its first ever point at Taft Stadium.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs SLC return home to Zions Bank Stadium in a week’s time to host 2018 Western Conference Champions, Phoenix Rising FC. The match-up is scheduled for Saturday May 25, where the evening kickoff from Herriman is set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
OKC: Cordell Cato (Owayne Omar Gordon), 71st minute – Omar Gordon sent a long diagonal ball to switch the play and found the feet of Cordell Cato. Cato latched onto the ball and took the opportunity to smoothly chip the ball over GK Andrew Putna to get the late lead.
SLC: Tate Schmitt, 93rd minute – In the dying seconds of the match, a long ball from Maikel Chang to the far end of the box ended by finding the head of Tate Schmitt, who headed the ball that was initially stopped by Laurendi, but Schmitt followed through with to tap the ball just over Laurendi to level out the match.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
OKC: Cody Laurendi, 49th minute: A long ball forward nearly got Tate Schmitt in behind early in the second half. As Schmitt prepared to settle the ball and turn the attack towards goal, Laurendi came off his line and picked the ball out of the air to stop the attack.
OKC: Cody Laurendi, 90th minute: During the late moments of the match, Maikel Chang got a head to the ball within six yards to flick it in towards goal at an attempt for an equalizer, however Laurendi was perfectly placed to catch the ball.
NOTES:
- RSL men GK Andrew Putna and MF Justin Portillo each made an appearance for the Monarchs, starting the match and playing the full 90 minutes.
- For the first time in the all-time series history between Monarchs and Energy FC, the Monarchs picked up a point at Taft Stadium.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC at OKC Energy FC
Date: May 18, 2019
Venue: Taft Stadium; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Attendance: 4,031
Weather: 69 and partly cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 0 1 1
OKC Energy FC 0 1 1
OKC – Cordell Cato (Owayne Omar Gordon), 71’
SLC – Tate Schmitt, 90’+3
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Andrew Putna; Konrad Plewa, Andrew Brody, Noah Powder, Joseph Okumu; Pierre Delentz (Masta Kacher, 80’), Josh Heard (Pablo Ruiz, 80’), Maikel Chang, Justin Portillo, Tate Schmitt; Ricardo Avila (Damian German, 85’)
Subs not used: Evan Finney, Kyle Coffee, James Moberg, Kalen Ryden
Fresno FC (4-3-2-1): Cody Laurendi; Mekeil Williams, Christian Ibeagha, Alvin Jones, Atiba Harris; Je-Vaughn Watson, Owayne Omar Gordon (Kyle Hyland, 88’), Rafael Garcia, Callum Ross, Cordell Cato (Christian Eissele, 92’); Deshorn Brown
Subs not used: Kalokwera Okot, Josh Garcia, Amer Sasivarevic, Alexy Bosetti, Bryan Byars
Stats Summary: SLC/OKC
Shots: 16 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 12 / 9
Offside: 1 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
OKC – Rafael Garcia (Caution) 34’
OKC – Je-Vaughn Watson (Caution) 37’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Greg Dopka
Assistant Referees: Kevin Lock, Matt Trotter
4th Official: Seth Barton
