Real Monarchs SLC vs New Mexico United
July 6, 2019; Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
8:00 p.m. MT; RealMonarchs.com
Real Monarchs SLC (6-6-3, 21 points); New Mexico United (6-3-8, 26 points)
Player to Watch – Forward Kevaughn Frater has cemented himself as one of the key players for the New Mexico United attacking front. A strong contender in the race for the 2019 Golden Boot, Frater currently sits second in the league with 11 goals to his name. The league’s April Player of the Month has even made an impact outside of the USL Championship, helping in pushing his side to victories over MLS sides Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a stoppage-time goal to tie the Rapids and first half goal to equalize against FC Dallas. This former Monarchs player is in a strong run of form and is one to watch in this Saturday’s contest.
History – These two Four-Corners cup rivals have met only once before in a match-up that saw the Monarchs suffer its worse loss this season as the Utah side fell 5-1 at Isotopes Park in April. Midfielder Jack Blake took the lead early on, but a first-half hat-trick from Santi Moar combined with goals from Frater and Chris Wehan in the second half did the Monarchs in. Real Monarchs SLC now seeks revenge when it hosts New Mexico United for the first time at Zions Bank Stadium.
Last Five – After a strong start its inaugural season, New Mexico United as now gone its last five games with just a single win in a record of 1-2-2. After taking the three points against Austin Bold FC in late May, New Mexico has taken losses to Sacramento Republic FC and Las Vegas Lights FC while splitting the points with OKC Energy FC and, most recently, LA Galaxy II. Despite its rough run in the USL Championship, however, New Mexico United as pushed itself to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a pair of victories over Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas. The 2019 expansion side will now seek to turn its USL Championship record around once more when it visits Zions Bank Stadium.
