St. Louis, Missouri (Sunday, August 28, 2023) – Real Monarchs (6-11-2, 21 points, 12th in West) lost their fifth road match of the season 4-0 at CITYPARK against St. Louis City2 in a lopsided affair.
Within the opening minutes of the match St. Louis City2 almost found themselves on the scoreboard first after a howler by the Monarchs rearguard. Luis Rivera passed the ball back to goalkeeper Derrek Chan who had come off his line, Rivera unaware that Chan had moved out of goal made a pass that seemed as if it would cruise over the goalline. Newly acquired defender Keller Storlie bolted to the ball making a frantic clearance on the line to prevent an egregious own goal.
Despite holding off the initial wave of St. Louis chances, the Monarchs would continue to have trouble maintaining possession in the midfield and final third due to their opposition's utilization of a high block. Due to City2’s press they continually regained possession in dangerous areas around the penalty area and despite impressive diving saves from Chan in the 22nd and 35th minute St. Louis would score moments later in the 38th minute. After failing to mark Selmir Pidro on the right wing the defender was able to cross the ball into the box connecting with the head of John Klein for the 1-0 lead.
Chan would continue to impress throughout the remainder of the first half, yet Real Monarchs would let another into the back of the net in the 44th minute following a corner kick. Ilijah Paul marking Joakim Nilsson, would let the defender find enough room to connect with Max Schnieder’s pass for the second headed goal of the night, handing St. Louis City2 the 2-0 advantage before halftime.
In the hunt for a goal, Real Monarchs began to push into the final third frequently at the start of the second half making aggressive runs in an attempt to get behind City2’s central defenders. The Monarchs were opportunistic as Paul and Zavier Gozo made multiple dangerous runs but they were called offside and were unable to capitalize on their chances. Although Real Monarchs began to create ample chances, St. Louis would continue the onslaught in the 63rd minute when Klein tapped in his second goal after a corner kick.
With the commanding 3-0 lead in hand and fulltime crawling closer St. Louis began to adopt a holding style of play dropping back into a low block and maintaining possession. However, City2 would add another to capitalize a dominant performance, scoring again in the 89th minute as Wan Kuzain slotted a left footed shot into the bottom corner for the 4-0 lead and victory.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs return to Herriman, Utah on Wednesday, August 9th to face San Jose Earthquakes II for their second meeting of the 2023 campaign. In the previous matchup between these two teams the Monarchs were victorious 1-0. After the game against San Jose, Real Monarchs will remain at Zions Bank Stadium facing North Texas SC on August 12.
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Derrek Chan; Cayne Madhlangove (Griffin Dillon 62’), Delentz Pierre, Keller Storlie, Luis Rivera (Gershon Henry 46’); Amferny Sinclair (Dominic Berrios 75’), Moses Neyman, Jude Wellings (Gilberto Garcia 46’); Zavier Gozo, Ilijah Paul (Owen Anderson 75’), Daron Iskenderian (Tyrone Mondi 46’)
Subs not used: Slade Hall
St. Louis CITY2 (4-4-2): Eric Walker; Sergio Rivas, Michael Wentzel, Joakim Nilsson (Josh Maher 76’), Selmir Pidro (AJ Palazzolo 76’); John Klein (Wan Kuzain 63’), Max Schneider, Miguel Perez (Dida Armstrong), Isak Jensen (Ezra Armstrong 76’); Caden Clover, Faysal Bettache (Ryley Gibbs 84’)
Subs not used: Nolan McGuire, Larsen Hackworth, Nick Bishop
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Cayne Madhlangove (caution) 42’
RM: Keller Storlie (caution) 55’
RM: Amferny Sinclair (caution) 62’
