HERRIMAN, Utah (Saturday, February 22, 2020) – Real Monarchs wrapped the Wasatch Winter Cup with a 3-1 loss to their 2019 USL Championship Final opponent, Louisville City FC on Saturday. FW Kyle Coffee tallied the lone Monarchs goal with a header in the 34th minute.
“There’s a mentality that we need to create in the club and implement between the coaching staff, the guys from last year – the leaders on the team – and for the new guys to buy in,” Head Coach Jamison Olave said after the match. “They need to figure out how we play, how we compete and how we want to win everything. They’re going to take a little time but they’ve held together.”
In a physical first half, Louisville City FC got off to a fast start with a goal in the 8th minute by an unmarked Abdou Thiam. While the match took a heated and physical turn, LouCity would add to its lead with two more quick succession goals in the 25th and 26th minutes. The game began to open in the Monarchs favor however as a pressing play down the right-wing led to a cross from FW Dayonn Harris to Coffee, who flicked in a header to pull one back.
The game was tight in the following 45 minutes after the break, as each side pressed around the attacking third. However, Louisville played a holding possession game, making threating presses against The Monarchs goal. The Monarchs defensive line did well to survive the onslaught with a few key saves from GK David Ochoa to keep LouCity with only a two-goal lead. The Monarchs were unable to capitalize on their attack however to close out the Winter Cup with a loss.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs move into their final week of preseason training to build on the lessons learned through the Wasatch Winter Cup. Ahead of the season opener on March 7th against San Antonio FC, Real Monarchs will play in one last preseason friendly with USL Championship side, Sacramento Republic FC.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
LOU: Abdou Thiam, 8th minute: In an attacking run that Monarchs defenders moved to press and shut down, Louisville switched the play in attack, finding Thiam on the other side of goal wide and unmarked. The time and space provided to Thiam allowed the LouCity winger to take a shot on goal that slid past GK David Ochoa.
LOU: Cameron Lancaster, 25th minute: During a corner kick, the ball fell neatly tat the feet of Lancaster who laced the ball up and over David Ochoa amid the traffic in the box to slip in the second LouCity goal.
LOU: Brian Ownby, 26th minute: Quickly on the offset from kick following the previous goal, LouCity found an opportunity to take advantage of the gaps in the Monarchs defense. Louville capitalized through Brian Ownby who took a powered shot to find a third goal to extend the Monarchs lead.
SLC: Kyle Coffee (Dayonn Harris), 34th minute: The Monarchs pressed down the right wing getting to the feet of Harris, who crossed the ball in to center where Coffee stood in waiting. Coffee made the jump to connect the ball with his head, flicking the ball in just under the Louisville goalkeeper to pull one back on the scoring.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
SLC: David Ochoa, 86th minute: As Louisville City mounted its attack and pressed in on the right side, the LouCity attacker was able to get a shot off that searched to tuck in at the near post. Ochoa read the play however and was able to get in the way for an easy save to prevent a Louisville fourth.
NOTES:
- Forward Chris Garcia, Defender Taylor Peay, and Goalkeeper David Ochoa made their first appearances for the Monarchs as part of the preseason tournament. The three have so far trained with Real Salt Lake throughout preseason.
- With the result against Louisville, Real Monarchs closes out its run in the second annual Wasatch Winter Cup. Louisville City FC earn the crown having previously earned three points over 2019 Winter Cup Champions Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Louisville City FC
Date: February 22, 2020
Venue: Zions Bank Training Center
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 0 1
Louisville City FC 3 0 3
LOU: Abdou Thiam, 8’
LOU: Cameron Lancaster, 25’
LOU: Brian Ormby, 27’
SLC: Kyle Coffee (Dayonn Harris), 34’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs Starting XI: David Ochoa, Steve Jasso, Nicolas Gimenez, James Moberg, Taylor Peay, Sam Brown, Jordan Pena, Arturo Rodriguez, Kyle Coffee, Dayonn Harris, Chris Garcia
Louisville City FC Starting XI: Ben Lundt, Pat McMahon, Alexis Souahy, Jimmy Ockford, Oscar Jimenez, Corey Williams, Corben Bone, Magnus Rasmussen, Brian Ownby, Abdou Thiam, Cameron Lancaster
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Noah Powder (Caution), 89’
