SANDY, Utah (Sunday, March 23, 2025) - Real Monarchs (1-0-1, 5 pts, 3rd in West) played to a 7-6 shootout victory over Colorado Rapids 2 (0-1-1, 1 pts, 11th in West) after a 2-2 draw in regulation time during the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro home opener at America First Field.
Real Monarchs had its first opportunity of the match in the 3rd minute when midfielder Griffin Dillon's cross was misplayed by the defense, falling at the feet of defender Tommy Silva who laid it off to midfielder Owen Anderson, whose shot from the center of the box went wide.
In the 30th minute, goalkeeper Max Kerkvliet was adjudged by the center referee to have committed a dangerous tackle as the last defender, leaving the Monarchs with 10 men for the remaining 60 minutes of the match. Goalkeeper Trace Alphin was called upon, taking the field for the first time in his professional career in place of forward Axel Kei, whose night was cut short.
Alphin was called into action right away, preparing to defend the free kick given away by Kerkvliet from about 24 yards out. Sam Bassett of Rapids 2 stepped up and rifled the ball into the top left corner, leaving Alphin stranded.
Midfielder Omar Marquez scored his first professional goal in the 40th minute, leveling the match off a corner taken by Silva. The inswinging corner was met by Marquez, whose first touch was deflected right back to him at the top of the six-yard box. He was then able to poke it past the keeper at his near post just before the break.
The stalemate would last only 18 minutes, as in the 58th minute, Colorado Rapids 2 took the lead off a corner kick that was headed into the near post past Alphin.
Forward Jesus Barea made his professional debut in the 67th minute, replacing Marquez. Barea was one of eight players drafted by Real Salt Lake, selected 19th overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft.
Defender Zack Farnsworth received the Monarchs' second red card of the night after earning his second yellow card in the 90th minute while trailing 2-1.
Dillon leveled the match for the Monarchs in the 2nd minute of added time. Substitute defender Ruben Mesalles cut the ball back from the endline to the top of the six-yard box, where Dillon tapped it past the diving keeper forcing a shootout.
Real Monarchs took the extra point from the shootout which took nine rounds to determine a winner. Debutant Alphin’s heroics saw the Monarchs claim the win, saving the Rapids' seventh attempt before stepping up ninth, firing the ball into the left side of the goal. The Rapids 2 shooter then missed his attempt, sending it high over the bar, securing the Monarchs’ victory.
SLC 2 : 2 COL
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
COL: Sam Bassett (Unassisted) 33’: A free kick from about 24 yards out was fired right into the top left corner.
SLC: Omar Marquez (Unassisted) 40’: Inswinging corner by Silva was deflected back to Marquez at the top of the six-yard box, where he poked it past the keeper at his near post.
COL: Daouda Amadou (Anderson Rosa) 58’: Off a corner kick, Amadou headed the ball into the ground, sending it past Alphin at the near post for the goal.
SLC: Griffin Dillon (Ruben Mesalles) 90+2’: Mesalles cut the ball back from the endline to the top of the six-yard box, where Dillon calmly finished it past the diving keeper.
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY:
SLC: N. Caliskan
COL: A. Rosa
SLC: K. Henry (Miss)
COL: C. Swan (Miss)
SLC: G. Dillon
COL: M. Pinto
SLC: O. Anderson
COL: R. Garcia
SLC: J. Barea
COL: M. Simpson
SLC: R. Mesalles
COL: J. Cameron
SLC: M. Jennings (Save)
COL: N. Strellnauer (Save)
SLC: W. Charpie
COL: J. Belluz
SLC: T. Alphin
COL: N. Hansen (Miss)
LINEUPS:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Max Kerkvliet; Tommy Silva (Ruben Mesalles, 78), Zack Farnsworth, Wes Charpies, Kobi Henry; Noel Caliskan, Griffin Dillon, Owen Anderson, Omar Marquez (Jesus Barea, 67), Liam O’Gara (Maximus Jennings, 46); Axel Kei (Trace Alphin, 32)
Subs not used: Gio Calderon
Colorado Rapids 2 (4-3-3): Nico Hansen, James Cameron, Charlie Harper, Josh Belluz, James Cameron, Sam Bassett (Rogelio Garcia, 66), Malik Pinto, Daouda Amadou (Max Simpson, 84), Colton Swan, Darren Yapi (Noah Strellnauer, 46), Alex Harris (Billo Diop, 65)
Subs not used: Stevie Flores, Vincent Rinaldi, Jaden Chan Tack, Kendall Starks
Stats Summary: SLC / COL
Possession: 59% / 41%
Shots: 9 / 6
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 7
Fouls: 13 / 12
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC: Zack Farnsworth (Yellow Card, 11)
SLC: Max Kerkvliet (Red Card, 31)
COL: Darren Yapi (Yellow Card, 44)
SLC: Liam O’Gara (Yellow Card, 45)
COL: Charlie Harper (Yellow Card, 55)
COL: Billo Diop (Yellow Card, 71)
COL: James Cameron (Yellow Card, 74)
SLC: Zack Farnsworth (Second, Yellow Card, 90)
