San Francisco, California (Friday, September 9, 2022) – Real Monarchs (5-14-4 20 points) drew 2-2 with San Jose Earthquakes II on the road. Additionally, the team also won their first kicks from the penalty spot shootout in MLS NEXT Pro play 4-3 behind two saves from RSL Homegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers.
In a must-win match for San Jose, the home side found the back of the net early when Eduardo Blancas played the ball ahead to Miles Robinson who drove into the box before firing a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game. The Monarchs looked to equalize quickly in the sixth minute on a long ball from Erik Holt to Tyrone Mondi, but Mondi’s right-footed shot was saved by the Earthquakes II's ‘keeper Emmanuel Ochoa.
Ten minutes later, Mondi fired another shot from the top of the box that was parried away by Ochoa for a corner kick where Pedro Fonseca nearly scored off a header, but his attempt was knocked away by the defense. Earthquakes II doubled their lead in the 26th minute when a poor touch from Golden Mafwenta was taken away by Max Arfsten who powered his shot past Beavers and into the goal. Both sides traded opportunities and battled in the midfield for possession until the halftime whistle.
Coming out of the break, the Monarchs increased the pressure on San Jose, and in the 56th minute, Fonseca found space out wide and crossed the ball into the box where Axel Kei rose up and headed it into the back of the net. The Utah side wasn’t done yet, as nine minutes later Fonseca found Aziz Kayondo in the box where the Ugandan pounded a shot past Ochoa for his first professional goal, equalizing the match at 2-2.
Real Monarchs continued to push for the game-winner as Mondi, Fonseca, and second-half substitute Jude Wellings each had shots parried away by Ochoa. Earthquakes II had some desperation attempts as well, but big saves from Beavers kept the score level, sending the teams to a shootout and eliminating San Jose from the playoffs.
Beavers came up big for the Monarchs, making two huge saves to set up the moment for Kei to sink his penalty kick and give the Club its first shootout win of the season by a score of 4-3.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs return to Zions Bank Stadium for its final match of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, hosting Rocky Mountain rivals Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. MT as part of Hispanic Heritage Night. Tickets are available for only $5 at www.rsl.com/monarchs/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SJII: Miles Robinson (Eduardo Blancas) 2nd minute: After receiving the ball from Blancas on the wing, Robinson quickly drove into the box and fired a right-footed shot into the top right corner of the goal.
SJII: Max Arfsten 26th minute: Arfsten pounced on a poor touch from Mafwenta and launched a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
RM: Axel Kei (Pedro Fonseca) 56th minute: Fonseca sped down the sideline and launched the ball to Kei whose header just barely crossed the goal line.
RM: Aziz Kayondo (Pedro Fonseca, Axel Kei) 65th minute: Kei crossed the ball into the middle of the box to Fonseca who flicked it behind him to Kayondo who fired a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
NOTES:
-Aziz Kayondo scored his first professional goal when Fonseca flicked the ball to him for the equalizer in the 65th minute.
-With the penalty shootout victory, the Monarchs eliminated San Jose from playoff contention.
Match: Real Monarchs at San Jose Earthquakes II
Date: September 9, 2022
Venue: Negoesco Stadium
Weather: Sunny and 68
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F PK
Real Monarchs 0 2 2 (4)
San Jose Earthquakes II 2 0 2 (3)
SJII: Miles Robinson (Eduardo Blancas) 2’
SJII: Max Arfsten 26’
RM: Axel Kei (Pedro Fonseca) 56’
RM: Aziz Kayondo (Pedro Fonseca) 65’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (3-4-3): Gavin Beavers; Jaziel Orozco, Zack Farnsworth, Erik Holt; Bode Hidalgo, Golden Mafwenta (Jude Wellings 74’), Abokye Bikyeombe (Gennaro Nigro 46’), Aziz Kayondo; Tyrone Mondi, Pedro Fonseca, Axel Kei
Subs not used: Javier Zaragoza, Bobby Pierre, Pierre Reedy, Yekeson Subah, Benjamin Rodriguez
San Jose Earthquakes II (4-3-3): Emmanuel Ochoa; Erick Reyes (Sebastian Carbajal 82’), Alejandro Cano, Casey Walls (Israel Carrillo 46’), Omar Lemus; Eduardo Blancas, Nathan Scott, Cruz Medina (Siad Haji 62’); Miles Robinson (Joaquin Eisenberg 62’), Rodolfo Castro, Max Arfsten
Subs not used: Eric de la Cerda, Giancarlo Mota Morfin, Drew Murray, George Asomani,
Stats Summary: RM/ SJII
Shots: 17/11
Shots on goal: 6/6
Saves: 4/4
Corner Kicks: 7/5
Fouls: 18/14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SJII: Rodolfo Castro (caution) 24’
RM: Aziz Kayondo (caution) 45+1’
SJII: Israel Carillo (caution) 58’
RM: Bode Hidalgo (caution) 60’
RM: Zack Farnsworth (caution) 67’
RM: Tyrone Mondi (caution) 80’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Katja Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Alberto Azpeitia, Andrew Hanks
4th Official: Michael Zapata
