SANDY, Utah (Sunday, May 5th, 2024) - Real Monarch (2-3-1, 7 points) took a loss against LAFC2 (4-1-1 13pts) even as they dominated the field and created the majority of scoring opportunities.
As the game began, both teams had trouble creating chances. The ground was slippery from the snow earlier in the day and the high visibility ball was nearly uncontrollable. Many players had to brush the snow from their shirts as they took a few tumbles trying to find their footing.
Real Monarchs took the first lead in the 10th minute. They built out the play from the back to find the opposite side of the box in a dangerous area for LAFC. A small touch from Damien Barker John to Tommy Silva at the top of the box allowed for some room for Silva to take a fake shot and let it fly. Silva shot low and hard to the far post and although David Ochoa got a glove on the ball, it wasn’t enough to stop the first goal of the game.
The next two tallies came from LAFC2 in a back-to-back fashion. The first was netted by Leonardo Flores following a miscommunication from Will Mackay and his backline. The defense didn’t step in soon enough and Mackay stepped too soon, allowing Flores to poke it away with only the goal in front of him. Flores had the time and space to dribble up the touchline, take a quick touch around Mackay, and tap the ball across the line. The second goal came only a minute later when Tommy Musto controlled the ball at the top of the box after connecting through his midfield. Adrian Wibowo was waiting in the wings and easily tapped the ball into the far netting after the short pass from Musto.
Real Monarchs didn’t lose hope though and found an equalizer late in the first half. The team settled their play and quickly found Barker John in the corner again. He was able to make a few quick touches around his marker and cross it in the center of the box. This time, Ochoa got to it before the shot, attempting to clear it but deflecting the cross directly to the feet of Beni Redzic who calmly deposited the chance to equalize the affair.
Coming into the second half, both teams found some good chances off of a few fouls in their attacking third. Nothing came from these shots as they all went wide or high, but the level of danger kept both ‘keepers on their toes.
The standstill between the teams came to an end with an LAFC2 goal 10 minutes into the second half. This play began with a lofted through-ball from Musto over the top of the Monarch’s defense. It was a foot race to the ball between Zack Farnsworth and Matt Evans but Evans was able to get there first. Positioning his body just between the defender and a charging Mackay, Evans was able to tap it in to find the final goal of the game and the winner for LAFC.
After Evans’ goal, Real Monarchs tried to rally for another equalizer but were unsuccessful. Monarchs finished the match with a 15-5 shot advantage and a definitive edge in possession. Their particularly clever skill was finding cunning through-balls to slice over the top of the LAFC2 defense. Even these line-breaking passes ended in Real’s shots going wide or allowing Ochoa to get a piece of the ball.
SLC 2 : 3 LAFC
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
SLC: Tommy Silva (Damien Barker John) 10’ A small touch from Damien Barker John to Tommy Silva at the top of the box allowed for some room for Silva to take a fake shot and let it fly.
LAFC: Leonardo Flores 21’ Leonardo Flores had the time and space to dribble up the touchline, take a quick touch around Mackay, and tap the ball across the line.
LAFC: Adrian Wibowo (Tommy Musto) 23’ Tommy Musto controlled the ball at the top of the box and connected with Adrian Wibowo who easily tapped the ball into the far netting.
SLC: Beni Redzic (Damien Barker John) 40’ Damien Barker John crossed the ball into the box for a deflection off of David Ochoa to Beni Redzic who was able to put it away.
LAFC: Matt Evans (Tommy Musto) 58’ Tommy Musto sent the ball over the Monarch’s defense to find Matt Evans who sent it past Will Mackay for the game-winner.
LINEUPS:
Salt Lake Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Zavier Gozo (Bertin Jacquesson 46’), Damien Barker John (Sebastian Joffre 73’), Owen Anderson (Aiden Hezarkhani 73’), Luca Moisa, Beni Redzic (Matthew Bell 61’), Noel Caliskan, Tommy SIlva (Luis Rivera 46’), Zack Farnsworth, Keller Storlie ©, Gio Villa, Will Mackay
Subs not used: Daron Iskenderian, Bobby Pierre, Marzuq Puckerin,, Griffin Dillon
LAFC2 (4-3-3): Adrian Wibowo, Leonardo Flores, Bjung Barboe (Matt Evans 46’), ATommy Musto, Tamir Ratoviz (Charlie Rosenthal 65’), Diego Rosales, Luca Bombino, Thabo Nare, Javen Romero, Shakir Ajani Nixon, David Ochoa ©
Subs not used: Aaron Meono, Decarlo Guerra, Javier Hernandez, Aidan Martin
Stats Summary: SLC / LAFC
Shots: 15 / 5
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 0 / 4
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 14 / 14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC: Bertin Jacquesson (Yellow Card, 86’), 14 Total Fouls
LAFC2: Luca Bombino (Yellow Card, 54’), Diego Rosales (Yellow Card 64’), Leonardo Flores (Yellow Cards 68’), 14 Total Fouls
