HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, July 23, 2021) – Real Monarchs (3-8-4, 13 points) topped Las Vegas Lights FC 3-2 in an exciting come-from-behind fashion to walk away from Zions Bank Stadium with all three points.
A first-half goal from Charlie Wehan, followed up with a second-half equalizer from Max Mata and a game-winning penalty kick from Milan Iloski earned the Monarchs the victory. Meanwhile, Christian Torres and Cal Jennings scored for Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Lights FC started the match on the front foot gaining majority of possession in the first 10 minutes that culminated in a chance from Torres, but his shot ricocheted off the crossbar. Torres’ second chance would not be denied and gave the away side the lead in the 23rd minute. Despite going down in the match, the Monarchs continued to push and were awarded with the equalizer in the 38th minute. Forward Aris Briggs laid the ball off on the right-side of the box to an oncoming Wehan, who collected the pass, continued his run and fired home the equalizer to send the sides level into the halftime break.
The Monarchs took the first chance of the second half in the 60th minute, but Jeizon Ramirez saw his chip attempt blocked down on an early run-out by the goalkeeper. One minute later, Jennings redirected a cross into the back of the net to recapture the lead for Las Vegas. The Monarchs found their second equalizer of the match in the 73rd minute when Iloski fired a low-crossing ball into the box and Mata redirected the pass beyond the goalkeeper for the goal. In the final frantic moments of the match, Ramirez was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty for the home side. Iloski stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty kick into the bottom-right corner of the net to earn the victory.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs travel to El Paso, Texas to take on Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park on Saturday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. MT. The match can be streamed on ESPN+.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
LV: Christian Torres (Cal Jennings), 23rd minute: Forward Cal Jennings sent a through ball in behind the Monarchs defense toward fellow forward Christian Torres. Torres gathered the ball and pushed the right-footed shot into the top-left corner.
SLC: Charlie Wehan (Aris Briggs), 38th minute: Monarchs forward Aris Briggs made several cuts during his run down the right side of the pitch before laying the ball off to forward Charlie Wehan outside the box. Wehan collected the ball and buried the right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.
LV: Cal Jennings (Christian Torres), 61st minute: From the right side of the pitch, forward Christian Torres sent a crossing ball into the center of the box. Forward Cal Jennings got onto the end of it and redirected the ball into the bottom-left corner.
SLC: Max Mata (Milan Iloski), 73rd minute: From the left side of the field, Monarchs forward Milan Iloski fired a ball into the center of the box. Forward Max Mata stuck his foot out and redirected the pass beyond the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
SLC: Milan Iloski (Penalty), 90’+6’: Forward Jeizon Ramirez made a last-second run down the left side of the pitch. After cutting to his right, Ramirez was taken down inside the box and the Monarchs were awarded a penalty. Milan Iloski stepped up to the spot, hop-skipped at the end of his run up and buried the ball into the bottom-right corner.
NOTES:
- Forward Charlie Wehan scored his first professional goal for the Real Monarchs in the first half, while forward Aris Briggs recorded his first professional assist on the play.
- Additionally, forward Max Mata got onto the scoresheet for the first time as a member of the Real Monarchs with his goal in the second-half.
- Monarchs forward Jeizon Ramirez returned from injury as a second-half substitute in the match.
- Las Vegas Lights FC forward Julian Vazquez made an appearance for the away side in the match. Vazquez spent three seasons with the Real Salt Lake Academy from 2015-2018. On October 7, 2018, the Brigham City, Utah native signed with Real Salt Lake as a Homegrown Player before spending the next two seasons with the Real Monarchs where he recorded two goals.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. Las Vegas Lights FC
Date: July 23, 2021
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Weather: Sunny and 86 degrees
Attendance: 885
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 2 3
Las Vegas Lights 1 1 2
LV: Christian Torres (Cal Jennings) 23’
SLC: Charlie Wehan (Aris Briggs) 38’
LV: Cal Jennings (Christian Torres) 61’
SLC: Max Mata (Milan Iloski) 73’
SLC: Milan Iloski (Penalty) 90’+6’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Jeff Dewsnup; Haroun Conteh (Daniel Flores, 65’), Kyle Adams, James Moberg, Bret Halsey (Kevin Saucedo, 80’); Bode Davis, Ibrahim Bancé; Charlie Wehan (Max Mata, 65’), Milan Iloski, Josimar Quintero (Jeizon Ramirez, 45’); Aris Briggs (Malik Johnson, 45’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Julio Benitez
Las Vegas Lights FC (4-3-3): Alex Rando; Mohamed Traore (Chinenye Uche, 82’), Alvaro Quezada, Mamadou Fall, Antonio Leone; Frank Daroma, Erik Duenas (Christopher Jaime, 64’), Daniel Crisostomo; Christian Torres (Julian Vazquez, 63’), Cal Jennings, Roberto Molina (Michael Yeboah, 87’)
Subs not used: Donovan Palomares, Nathan Sepulveda, Michael Yeboah,
STATS SUMMARY: SLC / LV
Shots: 12 / 12
Shots on Goal: 6 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 11**
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LV: Mamadou Fall (caution) 30’
SLC: Bode Davis (caution) 49’
SLC: Kevin Saucedo (caution) 90’+2’
SLC: Milan Iloski (caution) 90’+6’ **
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Brandon Stevis
Assistant Referees: Cameron Siler, Karsten Gillwald
4th Official: Corbyn May
