HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, July 16, 2022) – Real Monarchs earned their second consecutive home win with a stoppage time goal from forward Benjamin Rodriguez, defeating Sporting Kansas City II 1-0 at Zions Bank Stadium.
The two sides started off the match, trading offensive punches with end-to-end action. The Monarchs had a flurry of chances in the opening 15 minutes, but were unable to slip one past Sporting Kansas City’s goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh. In the 20th minute defender Bret Halsey found midfielder Leo Torres who slalomed around a defender and had a go from atop the 18-yard box, guiding it towards the top left corner, forcing McIntosh to stretch out to push it up and over the crossbar.
Forward Axel Kei found himself looking at goal in the 40th minute when a cross from forward Terron Williams fell to his feet inside the 18-yard box. Kei took a few touches around his defender and got his shot off, but McIntosh was able to corral the shot. Minutes later Rodriguez got another chance on the far side but his shot fell wide.
Out of the halftime break the Monarchs kept pressing for the opening goal, and in the 50th minute Torres found Williams inside the box, but McIntosh stood on his head to make the save. Just minutes later, Rodriguez rocketed a shot inches above the crossbar, shortly thereafter followed up by another chance from Kei that was saved to keep the match 0-0.
After a slew of chances late in the second half, Rodriguez finally opened the scoring in the third minute of stoppage time. Running onto the end of a pass from Christian Nydegger, Rodriguez hit his initial shot into the far post, but Rodriguez was able to connect off the rebound to slam home the game-winning goal, giving the Monarchs their second-straight home win.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs will host the inaugural MLS Next Pro Invitational with its first game on Tuesday, July 19 at Rio Tinto Stadium against European powerhouse, Chelsea FC. The Monarchs will return to regular-season league play on Sunday, July 31 at San Jose Earthquakes II.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM: Benjamin Rodriguez, 90+3rd minute: Christian Nydegger fed the ball to Rodriguez who saw his first shot saved off the far post, but was able to clean up the rebound for the late-game winner.
NOTES:
- Defender Marcus Vazquez made his return to the starting lineup for the first time since May 8, 2022 in the team’s 4-2 loss against SKC II.
- Midfielder Julian Vazquez played his first match in Utah against his former squad tonight. Vazquez was the 17th Homegrown in club history to be signed to a Real Salt Lake contract.
Match: Real Monarchs vs SKC II
Date: July 16, 2022
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium
Weather: 90 and Sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 0 1 1
SKC II 0 0 0
RM: Benjamin Rodriguez, 90+3’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Gavin Beavers; Bret Halsey, Jaziel Orozco, Golden Mafwenta, Marcus Vazquez (Pierre Reedy, 70’); Christian Nydegger, Leo Torres (Abokye Bikyeombe, 70’), Pedro Fonseca; Benjamin Rodriguez, Axel Kei, Terron Williams
Subs not used: Blake Kelly, Yekeson Subah, Jude Wellings, Julio Benitez
Sporting Kansas City II (4-3-3): Kendall McIntosh; Joseph Tetteh (Paul Agyei, 45’), Esai Easley, Cole McLagan, Michael Lenis (Tijani Fatah, 45’; Spencer Glass, 88’); Collin Fernandez, Jahon Rad, Curtez Kellman; Julian Vazquez (Coby Jones, 77’), Rauf Salifu, Josh Coan
Subs not used: Ethan Bandre, Bakary Bagayok, Edgar Bazan, Cade Thomson, Nathnael Clarke
Stats Summary: SKC / RM
Shots: 4 / 12
Shots on Goal: 0 / 7
Saves: 6 / 0
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 9 / 18
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Bret Halsey (caution) 27’
RM: Jaziel Orozco (caution) 45+1’
SKC: Paul Agyei (caution) 46’
RM: Christian Nydegger (caution) 53’
SKC: Paul Agyei (caution) 64’
SKC: Paul Agyei (ejection) 64’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Joseph Salinas
Assistant Referee: John Krill
Assistant Referee: Joshua Mills
Fourth Official: Jordan Downs
