TUKWILA, Washington (Wednesday, June 26 2024) - Real Monarchs (4-8-1, 14pts, 10th in West) fall to Tacoma Defiance (6-7-1, 20pts, 7th in West) 3-0 on the road.
Coming off of back-to-back wins and fourteen days since the last match, the Real Monarchs headed to Washington to take on Tacoma Defiance in the first of two matchups during the 2024 campaign.
The Monarchs win streak looked promising to continue shortly after the opening whistle, maintaining majority of the possession and controlling the match for the first five minutes. Tacoma broke the deadlock in the 27th minute through Chris Aquino who found himself on the receiving end of a cross from Cody Baker. Taking a touch, he rifled the ball into the bottom corner.
Real Monarchs used the goal as a wake up call quickly regrouping and taking back control of the match. SLC found the first shot of the night in the 40th minute countering through Zavier Gozo who drove up the field and fired a shot aimed towards the far post that was deflected over the crossbar by the Tacoma defender. The Monarchs added four more shots, one on frame, before the half ended with the home side leading 1-0.
The start of the second half started as a back and forth battle with both teams getting in each other's final third and creating chances.
SLC’s first chance of the half came from Bertin Jaquesson who received a ball near the top of the box and tried to fire a shot cutting it to the far post but went wide. Tacoma struck again in the 60th minute receiving a freekick after Omar Alba clipped a Tacoma attacker, stopping the attack and earning a yellow card. Lined up behind the ball Danny Leyva went for goal from the free kick, ripping the ball into the far upper 90 giving Tacoma a two goal edge over the Monarchs.
Just three minutes later the Defiance press forced a turnover of Monarchs captain Keller Storlie, intercepting the ball intended for the midfield quickly playing the ball forward. Sebastian Gomez took three touches getting himself to the 18 before passing the ball along the edge of the area to Osaze De Rosario who took a touch to control the ball and then fired a low powerful ball to the bottom left corner past the outstretched arms of Fernando Delgado putting a dagger in the Monarch’s hopes of overcoming the deficit.
Down 3-0 the Monarchs created a few chances to get back into the match but the Defiance defense on home turf took all three points available. The Monarchs fall to 0-5-0 on the road thus far in the 2024 campaign. SLC returns home this Sunday June 30 hosting North Texas at Zions Bank Stadium.
SLC 0 : 3 TAC
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
TAC: Chris Aquino 27th minute (Cody Baker): Forcing a Monarchs turnover the Defiance combined quickly through the middle of the field and out wide to Cody Baker who played a ball near the penalty spot to Chris Aquino who took one touch and finished to the near post bottom corner.
TAC: Danny Leyva 60th minute (unassisted): Earning a free kick in the final third Danny Leyva went for goal perfectly placing the ball in the upper 90 of the far post giving Fernando Delgado no chance.
TAC Osaze De Rosario 64th minute (Sebastian Gomez): Forcing a turnover off Monarchs captain Keller Storlie Tacoma’s midfielder played the ball to Sebastian Gomez who drove to the 18 and layed off a pass to Osaze De Rosrio who took one touch to control and fire a shot to the lower left corner entering a dagger into the Monarchs hopes of coming back.
LINEUPS:
Real Monarchs (4-4-2): Fernando Delgado; Tommy Silva, Zack Farnsworth, Keller Storlie ©, Omar Alba (Sebastian Joffre, 73); Noel Caliskan (Luca Moisa, 82), Griffin Dillon (Damien Barker John, 73), Daron Iskenderian (Beni Redzic, 64), Bertin Jaquesson; Matthew Bell, Zavier Gozo (Ilijah Paul, 73)
Subs not used: Bobby Pierre, Bennett Ewing
Tacoma Defiance (4-2-3-1): Jacob Castro; Cody Baker (Sebastian Gomez, 62), Stuart Hawkins, Antino Lopez, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi; Daniel Leyva (Frank Daroma, 62), Snyder Brunel ©, Travian Sousa, Chris Aquino (Faysal Bettache, 62), Georgi Minoungou (Blake Bowen, 68); OSaze De Rosario (Yu Tsukanome, 75)
Subs not used: Lars Helleren, Owen O’Malley, Burke Fahling, Enrique Kastaros
Stats Summary: SLC / TAC
Shots: 18 / 11
Shots on Goal: 1 / 5
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 10 / 7
Fouls: 16 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC: Griffin Dillon (Yellow Card, 38), Omar Alba (Yellow Card, 58), Beni Redzic (Yellow Card, 74) Sebastian Joffre (Yellow Card, 87), 16 total fouls
TAC: Chris Aquino (Yellow Card, 48), 13 total fouls
