HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, August 5, 2022) – Real Monarchs (3-13-2, 11 points) trounced Vancouver Whitecaps 2 in a 3-1 victory behind a brace from RSL Academy product Terron Williams and a third from midfielder Tyrone Mondi.
In the third meeting between the two Western Conference rivals, Real Monarchs started as the aggressors, retaining possession and finding several opportunities inside Whitecaps 2’s final third. Despite struggling to maintain any tempo in the game, the Canadians found the first real chance in the 18th minute when forward Emiliano Brienza fired a deep left-footed shot outside the box that forced Monarchs Goalkeeper Gavin Beavers into a diving save.
The Monarchs nearly broke through in the 29th minute when Williams broke free down the left side of the pitch and rifled a cross into the middle of the box to Real Salt Lake Homegrown Axel Kei whose header deflected off the crossbar and out of play. The Monarchs continued to push forward and nearly found the back of the net again in the 40th minute when forward Benjamin Rodriguez played a through ball to Kei, who smashed a low right-footed shot which Whitecaps 2 Goalkeeper Max Anchor saved in a sliding effort, sending the game into the half knotted at 0-0.
As the two sides headed into the halftime break a weather advisory saw the match delayed by half an hour. The Monarchs came out of the halftime break swinging, striking twice in the first four minutes of the second half. The first score came in the 48th minute when Kei snuck a through ball to Williams. Williams collected the ball and fired a left-footed shot past the diving goalkeeper and into the bottom right corner. Moments later, in the 50th minute, defender Christian Nydegger found Mondi who blistered past the defense and rocketed a shot into the back of the net.
As the second half pressed on the Real Monarchs continued to surge forward and found their third goal of the night in the 65th minute when Kei, once again, connected with Williams on the left side of the pitch. But this time Williams sent the ball into the roof of the net, securing the brace and pushing the lead to 3-0.
Whitecaps 2 threatened in the 74th minute when Easton Ongaro’s left-footed shot was headed away from goal by Monarchs defender Golden Mafwenta. The Canadian side finally broke through in the 80th minute when a Beavers save ricocheted out to Luis Fernandez-Salvador, whose right-footed shot found the back of the net to pull WFC2 within two. Both sides continued throwing jabs into the late moments of the game, but Whitecaps 2 was not able to find their way back into the game, securing a 3-1 victory for the Monarchs.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs will now head out on a two-game road trip, first traveling to the Lone Star State to take on North Texas SC on Friday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m. MT before heading North to Minnesota United FC 2 on Sunday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m. MT. The Monarchs will return to Zions Bank Stadium on Friday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. MT to face Tacoma Defiance for the third this season.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RM: Terron Williams (Axel Kei) 47th minute: Kei rifled a through ball to Williams inside the box where he gathered the pass and blasted a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner.
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Christopher Nydegger) 50th minute: After intercepting a pass near midfield Nydegger pressed the ball forward to Tyrone Mondi, just outside the box, who snuck through the defense and chipped the ball into the back of the net.
RM: Terron Williams (Axel Kei) 64th minute: Kei connected with Williams up the left side of the pitch, setting up a blistering shot into the roof of the net.
VAN: Luis Fernandez-Salvador 80th minute: Gavin Beavers made a diving save that spilled to Fernadez-Salvador who collected the rebound and finished the ball into the side netting.
NOTES:
- Defender Pierre Reedy returned to the starting lineup after suffering a concussion against San Jose Earthquakes 2 on June 17th.
- Bobby Pierre, Jaziel Orozco, Chris Garcia, and Blake Kelly were all unavailable for tonight’s match due to injury.
Match: Real Monarchs vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2
Date: August 5, 2022
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium
Weather: Rainy and 60 Degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 0 3 3
Whitecaps 2 0 1 1
RM: Terron Williams (Axel Kei) 47’
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Christopher Nydegger) 50’
RM: Terron Williams (Axel Kei) 64’
VAN: Luis Fernandez-Salvador 80’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Gavin Beavers; Pierre Reedy, Golden Mafwenta, Christian Nydegger, Aziz Kayondo; Abokye Bikyeombe (Zach Farnsworth 46’), Pedro Fonseca, Tyrone Mondi; Terron Williams, Benjamin Rodriguez (Jude Wellings 82’), Axel Kei ( Yekeson Subah 90’)
Subs not used: Will Mackay, Marcello Mondragon, Izzy Amparo, Yekeson Subah
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 (3-4-3): Max Anchor; Matteo Campagna (Simone Masi 57’), Cristian Campagna, Finn Linder, Christopher Lee (Mihail Gherasimencov 46’); Nick Salihamidzic (Thierno Bah 68’), Vasco Fry, Luis Fernandez-Salvador; Joseph Hanson (Jay Herdman 57’), Emiliano Brienza (Flilip Rakic 57’), Easton Ongaro
Subs not used: Cohen Park, Joshua Ndakla
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Christian Nydegger 87’ (caution)
RM: Pedro Fonseca 90+1’ (caution)
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Melvin Rivas
Assistant Referees: Robbie Kosinski, Noah Matos
Fourth Offical: Jordan Downs
