ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Saturday, October 30, 2021) – Real Monarchs (5-20-7, 22 points) fell 3-1 at New Mexico United in the final match of the 2021 season.
Max Mata scored late in the first half for the Monarchs, but a double from New Mexico United’s Chris Wehan and a second-half goal from Daniel Bruce were enough to earn the victory for the home side.
With a traveling Real Monarchs side looking to spoil New Mexico’s postseason plans by earning its first-ever result at Isotopes Park, it was United that struck first. In the 17th minute, Bruce dribbled past the defense on the right side of the six-yard box before pushing a grassburner across the face of goal toward Wehan, who buried the ball into the back of the net to give the home side the 1-0 lead. The Monarchs found the equalizer in the 40th minute when Charlie Wehan’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper and cleaned up by Mata, bringing the scoreline to 1-1. In the second minute of stoppage time, Andrew Tinari was taken down inside the box and New Mexico was awarded a penalty. Wehan stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty kick to retake the lead for the hosts and bring the score to 2-1 at the halftime break.
New Mexico United almost extended its lead in the 62nd minute after a save from Jeff Dewsnup created a corner kick opportunity for the hosts, but the ensuing right-footed shot by Kalen Ryden from inside the box missed just outside the right post. The home side found its third in the 81st minute when a run from Bruce resulted in a chip over the goalkeeper, bringing the match to its final scoreline of 3-1.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
NM: Chris Wehan (Daniel Bruce), 17th minute: Following a run behind the Monarchs back line, Daniel Bruce found himself one on one with the goalkeeper. With Chris Wehan making his own run down the left side of the box, Bruce laid the ball off to his teammate across the face of goal and Wehan tapped the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net.
SLC: Max Mata, 40th minute: After regaining possession in New Mexico’s half of the pitch, Charlie Wehan fired off a right-footed shot from just outside the 18-yard box. The shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but spilled out in front. Flying into the box to clean it up was Max Mata, who then buried the left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
NM: Chris Wehan, 45’+3’: Following a foul in the box after Andrew Tinari was taken down by the Monarchs defense, New Mexico United were awarded a penalty kick. Chris Wehan stepped up to the spot, aimed to the goalkeeper’s left and buried the shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
NM: Daniel Bruce (Justin Schmidt), 81st minute: From deep in his own half, New Mexico defender Justin Schmidt fired a long ball towards midfielder Daniel Bruce. Making a run down the center of the pitch, Bruce brought the ball down with his first touch and then with the outside of his boot on the second touch, chipped the ball over goalkeeper and into the right side of the net.
NOTES:
- Tonight’s match featured the second all-time meeting between Monarchs forward Charlie Wehan and his older brother, New Mexico United midfielder Chris Wehan.
- Missing the match due to injury were goalkeeper Gavin Beavers, midfielders Julio Benitez and Brayan Gomez and defender James Moberg.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. New Mexico United
Date: October 30, 2021
Venue: Isotopes Park; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Weather: Sunny and 73 degrees
Attendance: 9,570
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 0 1
New Mexico United 2 1 3
NM: Chris Wehan (Daniel Bruce) 17’
SLC: Max Mata 40’
NM: Chris Wehan 45’+3’
NM: Daniel Bruce (Justin Schmidt) 81’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (5-2-3): Jeff Dewsnup; Daniel Flores (Jude Wellings, 73’), Kevin Saucedo, Kyle Adams, Jaziel Orozco, Malik Johnson (Aris Briggs, 80’); Sam Brown, Bret Halsey; Leo Torres (Ibrahim Bancé, 73’), Max Mata, Charlie Wehan (Yekeson Subah, 45’)
Subs not used: Jimmy Slayton, Timi Sobowale
New Mexico United (4-2-3-1):
Alex Tambakis; Josh Suggs, Kalen Ryden, Rashid Tetteh, Austin Yearwood; Andrew Tinari (Saalih Muhammad, 56’), Juan Guzman (Michael Azira, 71’); Daniel Bruce, Chris Wehan (David Najem, 76’), Sergio Rivas (Justin Schmidt, 77’); Ilija Ilić
Subs not used: Phillip Beigl, Sam Hamilton, Alex Touche
STATS SUMMARY: NM / SLC
Shots: 11 / 10
Shots on Goal: 5 / 4
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 21 / 11
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC: Yekeson Subah (caution) 73’
SLC: Jamison Olave, Head Coach (caution) 78’
NM: Saalih Muhammad (caution) 89’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Elijio Arreguin
Assistant Referees: Seth Martin, Kevin Sanchez
4th Official: Cristian Campo Hernández
