ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Saturday, September 18, 2021) – Real Monarchs (4-16-4, 16 points) fell 2-1 to Mountain Division rivals New Mexico United at Isotopes Park.
Charlie Wehan scored his third goal of the season for the Monarchs, a left-footed grass-burner in the 50th minute.
New Mexico United got things going in the 15th minute of the match on a free kick by midfielder Chris Wehan that was headed back by Monarchs defender Jaziel Orozco, but Orozco’s header came short of clearing the box and the ensuing header by defender Kalen Ryden lasered on frame before being quickly pushed over the top by goalkeeper Jeff Dewsnup to keep the hosts off the board. In the 27th minute, Wehan created another chance for the hosts, a low ball across the face of goal, but New Mexico United failed to get a foot on it and both sides entered the break scoreless after a tightly-contested first half.
The hosts found the breakthrough three minutes into the second half with a right-footed blast by Amando Moreno that beat the goalkeeper into the top-left corner of the net for the 1-0 lead, but it only took the Monarchs two minutes to equalize. In the 50th minute, the Monarchs poached a throw-in and found Wehan open in space above the box. Wehan passed three defenders before beating the goalkeeper with a shot into the left side of the net to bring the score to 1-1. New Mexico United earned a penalty in the 56th minute, but Devon Sandoval’s attempt to recapture the lead for the home side was once again thwarted by Dewsnup. The hosts jumped back on top for good in the 80th minute with a header from New Mexico’s Wehan and the match ended 2-1 in favor of New Mexico.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs head back home to welcome New York Red Bulls II to Zions Bank Stadium for the inaugural meeting between the sides on Sunday, September 26 at 7:00 p.m. MT. The match can be streamed on ESPN+ and locally on the KSL TV app.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
NMU: Amando Moreno (Andrew Tinari) 48th minute: Following a run down the middle of the pitch, Amando Moreno dribbled past most of the defense with a cut to his left before beating his defender with a vicious cut back to his right. Moreno then rocketed a right-footed shot into the top-left corner of the net.
SLC: Charlie Wehan (Malik Johnson) 50th minute: After regaining possession by stealing the New Mexico United throw-in, Malik Johnson found Charlie Wehan in space in a dangerous pocket above the box. Wehan pushed past three defenders before beating the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
NMU: Chris Wehan (Daniel Bruce) 80th minute: New Mexico United fired a long ball ahead of the defense that was collected by Daniel Bruce near the left side of the 18-yard box. Bruce then sent a left-footed cross into the box towards Chris Wehan at the far post and the midfielder headed the ball down and up across the line for the goal.
NOTES:
- Tonight’s match featured Monarchs forward Charlie Wehan playing against his older brother, New Mexico United midfielder Chris Wehan, for the first-ever meeting between the siblings.
- Midfielder and team captain Sam Brown returned to the starting XI after missing the previous two matches due to an ankle injury.
- Missing the match due to injury were goalkeeper Gavin Beavers and forward Aris Briggs.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. New Mexico United
Date: September 18, 2021
Venue: Isotopes Park; Albuquerque, New Mexico
Weather: Partly cloudy and 83 degrees
Attendance: 7,564
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 0 1 1
New Mexico United 0 2 2
NMU: Amando Moreno (Andrew Tinari) 48’
SLC: Charlie Wehan (Malik Johnson) 50’
NMU: Chris Wehan (Daniel Bruce) 80’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (5-2-3-1): Jeff Dewsnup; Haroun Conteh (Daniel Flores, 60’), Kevin Saucedo, Jaziel Orozco, James Moberg (Timi Sobowale, 45’); Ibrahim Bancé (Max Mata, 88’), Sam Brown (Julio Benitez, 88’); Malik Johnson (Bret Halsey, 70’), Charlie Wehan, Christian Nydegger; Yekeson Subah
Subs not used: Jimmy Slayton, Josimar Quintero
New Mexico United (3-4-3): Alex Tambakis; Austin Yearwood, Kalen Ryden, Justin Schmidt; David Najem (Ilija Ilic, 74’), Juan Guzman (Saalih Muhammad, 65’), Andrew Tinari (Isidro Martinez, 74’), Daniel Bruce; Amando Moreno (Michael Azira, 81’), Devon Sandoval (Josh Suggs, 65’), Christopher Wehan
Subs not used: Phillip Beigl, Rashid Tetteh
STATS SUMMARY: NMU / SLC
Shots: 26 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Saves: 0 / 7
Corner Kicks: 10 / 2
Fouls: 12 / 16
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
NMU: Amando Moreno (caution) 2’
NMU: Daniel Bruce (caution) 24’
SLC: Haroun Conteh (caution) 25’
SLC: Yekeson Subah (caution) 58’
NMU: Saalih Muhammad (caution) 90’+6’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Matthew Corrigan
Assistant Referees: Stephen McGonagle, Bennett Savage
4th Official: Cristian Campo Hernández
