Real Monarchs SLC continues its quest for the Four-Corners Cup on Saturday when it heads out on the road against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The Monarchs are still in search of its first road win in 2019 as well as its first win in the fan-created tournament. The Utah club is no stranger to adversity however as it stays focused moving forward.
Saturday’s contest will be the 13th bout between Real Monarchs and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, a series that sees the Colorado side lead with a record of 7-4-1 and a positive 3-goal differential. Switchbacks FC has been a consistent thorn in the side of the Monarchs, being only one of two teams throughout 2018 that the Monarchs was not able to overcome. In 2015, Real Monarchs and Switchbacks FC entered in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the third round, which saw the Monarchs bow out of the tournament with an early 5th minute goal.
Despite Switchbacks FC being a constant bane for Real Monarchs, it does not stop the Utah side putting up a fight. The Monarchs took home a 5-2 victory in 2017 and held off the Colorado Springs offense on two other occasions to shut out the opposition in 1-0 and 2-0 scorelines. The 2018 contests saw the Monarchs not only hold off the Colorado attack until the dying moments, it also outshot the opposition 27-15 across the two games while holding on to the majority of possession. The performances show the Monarchs have what it takes to come out on top over its Western Conference rival.
Saturday’s match-up will be the first time the two sides meet in 2019 and the first bout between the two in the Four-Corners Cup. Between the four sides in the fan-created tournament, neither the Monarchs nor Switchbacks FC has earned the full three points as the Monarchs hold a record of 0-2-0 and Switchbacks FC hold 0-1-1. After picking up the 5-3 win over Rio Grande Valley FC two weeks ago – a team that bested Colorado Springs 3-0 last Saturday – the Monarchs now look to come back from its week-long rest to carry its momentum to rise not only in the Western Conference standings, but to catch Four-Corners leaders New Mexico United with a critical victory over Colorado Springs.
The third match-up for the Monarchs in the Four-Corners Cup will is set for this Saturday, June 22 where kick off from Weidner Field is set for an evening time of 7:00 p.m. MT. The match-up will be available to watch live on ESPN+.
