HERRIMAN, Utah (Wednesday, April 23, 2025) - Real Monarchs (2-1-2, 9th West) suffered their first shoot-out defeat of the 2025 MLS NextPro season, being held to a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes before ultimately slumping to a 7-6 penalty shoot-out loss to Los Angeles FC 2 in both teams latest domestic encounter at America First Field on Wednesday evening.
Benefitting from the added experience and expertise of first-team squad members Lachlan Brook, Tyler Wolff, and Nelson Palacio, the Monarchs enjoyed the more positive start, and consequently drew first blood less than 10 minutes into the affair when Brook’s cross into the near-post area from a direct corner was deflected goalwards by LAFC2 defender Christian Díaz, through the legs of his goalkeeper and into his own net for a calamitous own goal.
The hosts continues to dominate the majority of proceedings in the immediate aftermath of scoring, but the game subsequently grew into a more even contest as halftime drew nearer, and with slight momentum on their side, the visitors managed to pull level when midfielder Matthew Evans received the ball in the hole and bent a left-footed effort from 20-yards out into the back of the net.
Head Coach Mark Lowry’s men continued to enjoy the better chances in the second half, with midfielder Owen Anderson, and defender Zack Farnsworth both coming close with chances of their own to edge the Monarchs in front, and substitute Brayan Sandoval even crashing the crossbar from a close freekick eight minutes from time, but ultimately all to no avail.
In the ensuing customary shoot-out, 19-year-old Max Kerkvliet’s save on the very first effort seemingly put the hosts in charge of their own destiny in control of the tie before Sandoval’s missed attempt allowed the visitors a lifeline.
In the end, a mighty save from LAFC2 goalkeeper Ethan Scally on defender Giovanni Calderon’s attempt during the penalty sudden death proved the definitive moment as the final nail in the coffin, condemning Lowry’s side to a difficult, narrow shootout loss.
The result sees the Monarchs fall to ninth on the Western Conference standings, with eight points from the team’s opening five games. Next up for the side is an away clash with Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on May 3 at Swangard Stadium, with kickoff slated for 2 PM MT.
SLC 1 (6) : 1 (7) LAFC2
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
SLC: Christian Díaz OG 7’: A direct corner kick delivery from midfielder Lachlan Brook, low and into the goalkeeper’s near side took a significant deflection off LAFC2 defender Christian Díaz before bumbling through the goalkeeper’s legs and into the net for an own goal.
LAFC2: Matt Evans (Jude Terry) 42’: Midfielder Matt Evans received the ball in the hole between the hosts’ midfield and defense, before opening up his body and curling a sublime left-footed strike, from 20-yards, past Max Kervliet and into the back of the net.
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY:
LAFC2: 66 Bryan Moyado (save)
SLC: #81 Griffin Dillon
LAFC2: #37 Kairo Walters
SLC: #32 Zach Farnsworth
LAFC2: #72 Carlos Díaz
SLC: #30 Owen Anderson
LAFC2: #90 Tommy Mihalic
SLC: #40 Omar Marquez
LAFC2: #40 Sebastian Nava
SLC: #87 Brayan Sandoval (miss)
LAFC2: #55 Erick Díaz
SLC: #77 Ruben Mesalles
LAFC2: #65 Adrian Sanders
SLC: #76 Liam O’Gara
LAFC2: #81 Charlie Rosenthal
SLC: #55 Gio Calderon (save)
LINEUPS:
Real Monarchs (4-2-3-1): Max Kerkvliet; Zackery Farnsworth, Maximus Jennings (Liam O’Gara 63’), Gio Calderon, Ruben Mesalles; Nelson Palacio (Luca Moisa 81’), Tyler Wolff (Brayan Sandoval 63’), Lachlan Brook (Omar Marquez 63’), Owen Anderson, Griffin Dillon ©; Forster Ajago (Ousman Touray 45’)
Subs not used: Axel Kei, Izahi Amparo, Babatounde Adjalala, Will Mackay
LAFC2 (4-3-3): Ethan Scally, Deryk Jones Jr ( Adrian Sanders 67’), Christian Díaz. Erick Díaz, Carlos Díaz; Decarlo Guerra (Bryan Moyado 79’), Jude Terry (Gavin Zambrano 60’), Matt Evans (Kairo Walters 79’); Sebastian Nava, Adrian Wibowo © (Charlie Rosenthal 45’), Tommy Mihalic
Subs not used: James Romero
Stats Summary: SLC / LAFC2
Possession: 56% / 44%
Shots: 21 / 7
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 16 / 15
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC: Tyler Wolff (Yellow Card, 20)
LAFC2: Jude Terry (Yellow Card, 32)
LAFC2: Christian Díaz (Yellow Card, 45+1)
SLC: Nelson Palacio (Yellow Card, 55)
