HERRIMAN, Utah (Friday, July 15, 2022) – Real Monarchs (1-12-2, 5 points, 11th in West) return home to host Sporting Kansas City II (7-6-2, 23 points, 8th in West) at Zions Bank Stadium on Saturday, July 16 with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. MT. The Monarchs are looking to build off their last home performance during which they dominated Timbers 2, winning 4-0.
Saturday’s match, as well as all Real Monarchs matches this season, will be streamed live via www.MLSnextPro.com.
Real Monarchs vs Sporting Kansas City II
Zions Bank Stadium, Herriman, Utah
Saturday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Saturday’s RM vs SKC game Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Game Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Real Monarchs and Sporting Kansas City II can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Meg Van Dyk in RSL Communications via email at meg.vandyk@rsl.com.
2022 Records: Real Monarchs (1-12-2, 5 points); Sporting Kansas City II (7-6-2, 23 points)
Head-to-Head: In their first matchup in MLS NEXT Pro, Sporting Kansas City II came from behind to defeat Real Monarchs 4-2 in Kansas, despite an early brace from forward Tyrone Mondi. Prior to joining MLS NEXT Pro, the Monarchs and Kansas City each played in the USL Championship, with the Monarchs posting a 3-1-1 record all-time against the club formerly known as Swope Park Rangers.
THE CAPTAIN’S RETURN
On the road at Houston Dynamo 2, Captain Pedro Fonseca returned to the scoresheet, posting the lone Monarchs goal in a tough 4-1 loss. Fonseca was a bright spot for the squad, leading the team in shots with five and contributing the only shot on target for the visiting side. With his goal in Houston, the Brazilian now leads the team in goals this season with five, while Tyrone Mondi is in second with four goals.
BACK AT HOME
The last time Real Monarchs were at Zions Bank Stadium the Club earned its first win in the newly-formed MLS NEXT Pro, defeating Timbers 2 by a score of 4-0. The match was the first clean sheet of the season for goalkeeper Gavin Beavers and the highest number of goals scored in one match by the Utah side. The victory marked the return of Tyrone Mondi to the scoresheet as he netted a brace, and the emergence of Chris Garcia as the forward tallied a goal and two assists. 14-year-old RSL Homegrown Axel Kei was the first to find the back of the net in the scoring spree, his second goal in four games.
THE UTAH NATIVE RETURNS
While Julian Vazquez currently plays for Sporting Kansas City II, the midfielder grew up in Utah and started his playing career with RSL Academy before he eventually signed a contract with Real Salt Lake as the Club’s 17th Homegrown Player. Saturday’s match will be the first time Vazquez will play against his former team in Utah. This season, the midfielder has scored four goals while assisting on three others, tied for the team-high in goal contributions with Rauf Salifu at seven.
HOMEGROWNS GALORE
Real Monarchs have had an influx of RSL Homegrowns earn minutes with the MLS NEXT Pro side in recent weeks. In its last five matches, the Monarchs have fielded at least five Homegrowns, including a league-high seven in a 3-1 loss to an MLS-heavy Colorado Rapids 2 side. The Club has seen high production out of its first-team contracted players with three of the Monarchs’ last six goals coming from RSL Homegrowns Axel Kei and Chris Garcia. Garcia has also burst onto the scene this month, earning two assists and scoring a goal in July. Homegrown Goalkeeper Gavin Beavers has started in 11 of the Monarchs' 15 matches in MLS NEXT Pro, recording 18 saves on the season before earning his first clean sheet of 2022 against Timbers 2 in the Club’s 4-0 win.
