HOUSTON, Texas (Sunday, May 14, 2023) – Real Monarchs (3-5-0, 9 points) dropped its second road match of the season, losing 3-0 to Houston Dynamo 2.
With a busy week for the first team and the MLS NEXT Flex Tournament pulling players for the U17s, the Monarchs starting lineup featured two new starters in new Belgian signee Jenthe Mertens, and former Academy and Homegrown player **Julian Vazquez**.
Houston Dynamo 2, searching for its first home win of the season, established an early attack that forced **Fernando Delgado** to make a handful of saves, testing him from all sides in an effort to draw first blood. The consistent press from the Dynamo made it difficult for the Monarchs to develop any play through the midfield and the visitors struggled to create chances on goal.
Houston’s high press paid off in the 31st minute when Delgado misplayed a ball in the box, leaving Roberto Avila all alone for an easy open-net tap-in giving the hosts the 1-0 lead. The Mexican Youth International goalkeeper seemed to collect himself after the mistake, making a fantastic one-handed diving save to force a freekick off the crossbar and out of harm's way minutes later.
In the 45th minute right before the half-time break, Houston doubled its lead following an errant clearance, and Djevencio van der Kust punished the Monarchs’ mistake, sliding home a shot past a diving Delgado.
Coming out of the locker room, Houston continued its high-octane attack, forcing Delgado to make yet another leaping save, parrying away a volley attempt over the crossbar. Searching for their first shot on target of the night, the Monarchs looked to build some momentum going forward, but Ilijah Paul’s shot was deflected by a defender and forced out for a corner.
In the 54th minute Omar Alba, who had already been shown a yellow card earlier in the match, flew into a Houston player with his boot up and was shown a second yellow, reducing the Monarchs to 10 men for the remainder of the game. Just four minutes later the match was delayed due to severe weather.
After a lengthy delay, Houston picked up where they left off, challenging the backline of the 10-man Monarchs side. Delgado made another flurry of saves in the 10-minute span, but the Dynamo broke through in the 72nd minute off a low-flying shot from Diego Gonzalez to go up 3-0, sealing the three points for Houston.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs return to Zions Bank Stadium to take on LAFC 2 on May 21, 2023 at 4 pm MT. The team will then travel to Missouri to take on Club rivals Sporting Kansas City II on May 26, 2023 at 6 pm MT at Rock Chalk Park.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU: 31st minute: Houston began the match pressing high on the monarchs backline, and the strategy paid off in the 31st as Roberto Avila pounced on a poor touch from Fernando Delgado to tap it in on an open net.
HOU: 45th minute: The Dynamo capitalized on another Monarchs defensive mistake as Griffin Dillon’s pass was intercepted in Houston’s attacking third, and Djevencio van der Kust finished the play sliding the ball to the back post past Delgado.
HOU: 72nd minute: Diego Gonzalez fired a hard-hit roller along the ground from outside the 18-yard-box to beat an outstretched Delgado, capping a 3-0 victory for the Dynamo.
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Fernando Delgado; Jenthe Mertens, Omar Alba, Bobby Pierre, Marcus Vazquez; Griffin Dillon, Amferny Arias (Marcelo Mondragon 86’); Terron Williams (Gennaro Nigro 58’), Julian Vazquez, Seth Powder (Duncan Jarvie 86’); Ilijah Paul
Subs not used: Derrek Chan
Houston Dynamo 2 (4-3-3): Andrew Pannenberg; Jathan Juarez (Tate Lampman 80’), Mujeeb Murana, Talen Maples, Chase Gasper (Isaiah LeFlore 58’); Diego Gonzalez, Charles Auguste (Sebastian Rodriguez 46’), Jacob Evans; Papa Ndyoye, Ezekiel Soto (Roberto Avila 14’), Djevencio van der Kust (Yair González 80’)
Subs not used: Omar Grey, Ifeanyi Udanoh, Jonathan Munteanu, Paolo Ríos
Stats Summary: RM/HOUShots: 5/25
Shots on goal: 0/10
Saves: 7/0
Corner Kicks:1/17
Fouls: 17/18
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Omar Alba (caution) 9’
HOU: Jacob Evans (caution) 28’
HOU: Charles Auguste (caution) 41’
HOU: Jathan Juarez (caution) 45’+3’
RM: Amferny Arias (caution) 52’
RM: Omar Alba (second caution, ejected) 54’
RM: Gennaro Nigro (caution) 90’+2’
