MF Maikel Chang Scores to Secure Club’s Fourth Consecutive Win
HERRIMAN, Utah. (Saturday, July 6, 2019) – Real Monarchs SLC (7-6-3, 24 points)earned its fourth straight win after picking up a 1-0 win over Four-Corners Cup rival New Mexico United on Saturday night.
FW Maikel Chang converted a penalty kick for the contest's lone goal to secure the three points in Herriman.
Post-game quotes from SLC v NMU
In a quiet first half, the Monarchs and New Mexico United traded possession and applied pressure around one another’s goals. The Monarchs got its first strong opportunity early on when a cross into the middle of the penalty area was nearly met by a jumping FW Douglas Martinez, but New Mexico United defender Justin Schmidt got a foot in for the clearance. Martinez came up big again nearly putting the ball into the top of the net in the 30th minute, however, his misplaced shot sent the ball just over the goal. DF Kalen Ryden rounded out the first half with a headed effort of his own just before the halftime whistle, but his shot rebounded off the crossbar for a scoreless first half.
The match got heated after the break, as both sides continued to fight for supremacy, but after Martinez was brought down in the penalty area in the 58th minute, allowing Chang to coolly convert the kick to take the lead. New Mexico United responded with pressure that put GK David Ochoa and the Monarchs backline to the test, but the Utah side withstood the pressure and ultimately shut out the Four-Corner rivals.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs SLC plays its second consecutive game at home when it plays host to Tacoma Defiance. The match-up is set for next Friday, July 12 with an evening kickoff of 8:00 p.m. MT from Zions Bank Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLC: Maikel Chang (Penalty), 59th minute – During the attacking run by the Monarchs, Douglas Martinez was brought down in the penalty area by the United backline, awarding Real Monarchs with a kick from the spot. Chang stepped up to take the opportunity and smoothly converted to put the Monarchs on the board.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
NM: Justin Schmidt, 12th minute: Real Monarchs looked destined to get the opening goal after a crossed ball into the center got ahead to Douglas Martinez. As Martinez leaped to meet the ball in the air, New Mexico United defender Justin Schmidt got his foot in the way to make the clearance and protect the early scoring.
SLC: David Ochoa, 71st minute: New Mexico United nearly found the equalizer as a short pass into the middle met the foot of a United forward, but Ochoa was quick to get his body over the ball to protect the scoring.
NOTES:
- MF Maikel Chang extended his team lead in goals scored after converting the second half penalty. Chang now leads the Monarchs with seven goals, just one over Douglas Martinez.
- The victory over New Mexico United extends the Real Monarchs win-streak to four straight games.
- The Monarchs defense shut down the aggressive New Mexico attack, securing the team’s third clean sheet in the season, and the first clean sheet since late March.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs New Mexico United
Date: July 6, 2019
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 2,159
Weather: 86 degrees and sunny
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 0 1 1
New Mexico United 0 0 0
SLC – Maikel Chang (Penalty), 59’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Konrad Plewa, Noah Powder, Kalen Ryden, Andrew Brody; Ricardo Avila(James Moberg, 78’), Justin Portillo, Masta Kacher, Josh Heard (Jordan Pena, 85’), Maikel Chang; Douglas Martinez
Subs not used: Evan Finney, Steve Jasso, Luis Palma, Kyle Coffee, Lionel Etoundi
New Mexico United (4-4-1-1): Cody Mizell; Ethen Sampson (Manny Padilla, 72’), Justin Schmidt, Sam Hamilton, Austin Yearwood (Josh Suggs, 56’); Juan Guzmán, Santi Moar, Christopher Wehan, Daniel Bruce (Devon Sandoval, 63’); Kevaughn Frater, Kenny Akamatsu
Subs not used: Ryan Williams, David Estrada, Toni Soler, Benjamin Beaury
Stats Summary: SLC/NM
Shots: 12 / 13
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 6
Fouls: 12 / 20
Offside: 0 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Konrad Plewa (Caution) 23’
NM – Cristopher Wehan (Caution) 26’
NM – Josh Suggs (Caution) 66’
NM – Kevaughn Frater (Caution) 66’
SLC – Ricardo Avila (Caution) 77’
NM – Juan Guzmán (Ejection) 94’
SLC – Kalen Ryden (Caution) 97’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Dejan Susak
Assistant Referees: Diego Blas, Eric Wood
4th Official: Hamed Sadeghi
