BURNABY, British Columbia (Thursday, June 15, 2023) – Real Monarchs (4-8-1, 14 points, 12th in West) lost 1-0 against Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (7-4-3, 26 points, 3rd in West) after being outshot by the Canadian side.
Vancouver immediately attempted to catch the Monarchs on the back heel within the first few seconds of the match. After forcing a turnover in the first minute, Vancouver found themselves on the counterattack with a three on two advantage. Luckily, a mistake from the Whitecaps 2 attack resulted in a goal kick being awarded to Real Monarchs. It would be only ten minutes later when the Monarchs responded with a potential chance when defender Gennaro Nigro received an excellent through ball from forward Gilberto Garcia. The Monarch’s defender sent a shot into goal but it was pushed out for a corner kick by Max Anchor.
In the 12th minute it seemed certain that Vancouver Whitecaps 2 had a clear chance to take the advantage. Once again catching the Monarchs backline pressing high, Vancouver slipped free on the counterattack. Yet, Blake Kelly rushed off his line to make an aggressive stop diving on top of the ball preventing Vancouver from taking the early lead. Real Monarchs and Vancouver continued to exchange looks in the opening half hour of the match with ten shots shared between the two sides. Despite having the advantage in shots on target and corners, Real Monarchs failed to find the back of the net after the first half concluded 0-0.
As the match resumed the pace of the game began to slow as both sides attempted to control possession and find the holes within the opposition’s rearguard. The Monarchs looked to strike in the second half first as the Utah side maintained possession in Vancouver’s final third for the first ten minutes of the second half and created a multitude of chances but were unable to slot the ball past Whitecaps 2. Vancouver’s backline remained collected and in the 56th minute forced a Monarch’s turnover creating a counterattack scenario.
On the counter Whitecaps 2’s Christian Greco-Taylor picked out a streaking Levonte Johnson who received the ball and quickly beat his Monarchs defenders who were in pursuit. As Johnson met Kelly in the six yard box, Johnson chipped the ball just under the crossbar to notch the first goal of the match handing Vancouver the 1-0 advantage. After Vancouver had taken the lead the Monarchs were unable to string together periods of possession and failed to create significant changes. Even though Real Monarchs outshot their opponent in the first half by three within the second period of play Vancouver had taken the advantage in shots resulting in the Canadian side claiming victory 1-0.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs will return to Zions Bank Stadium this coming Sunday to face St. Louis CITY 2 on June 18 at 8:00pm MT. After their Sunday match the Monarchs will prepare for a trip to the City of Roses the following week where they will face Timbers 2 on June 25, who they previously thrashed 5-1 at home on April 30.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
VAC 2: Levonte Johnson (Christian Greco-Taylor) 56’: After Christian Greco-Taylor picked out Levonte Johnson with a well placed lofted through pass the forward beat his Monarchs defenders with pace. Upon beating his defenders Johnson chipped a shot above the head of Blake Kelly as the forward came slightly off his line into the back of the net.
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-2): Blake Kelly; Gabriel Oksanen, Omar Alba, Bobby Pierre, Luis Rivera; Gennaro Nigro, Jude Wellings (Seth Powder 64’); Gilberto Garcia, Daron Iskenderian; Julian Vazquez, Terron Williams
Subs not used: Derreck Chan, Gershon Henry
