SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, July 19, 2022) – Real Monarchs (0-0-1 2 points) split points with English Premier League 2 side Chelsea FC in 2-2 draw, earning an extra point for the team’s victory in the shootout.
In a historical first matchup between the two clubs, it was Chelsea that got off to the fast start, creating a flurry of early chances before breaking through in the 3rd minute. Midfielder Dion Rankine slalomed past several Monarch's defenders and rifled a right-footed shot that snuck underneath RSL Homegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers and into the back of the net.
As the first half progressed, both sides began to throw jabs back and forth inside the other’s final third and the Monarchs climbed back into the game in the 32nd minute when Midfielder Pedro Fonseca found Tyrone Mondi on a through ball at the top of the box. Mondi squared up and blasted a right-footed shot into the top-left corner of the net. Following the goal, the Monarchs continued to show composure and pushed forward, creating several more dangerous opportunities, but the team was unable to convert, sending the game into the halftime break tied at 1-1.
Coming out of the halftime break, RSL Homegrown midfielder Diego Luna looked to chip the second-half goalkeeper Eddie Beach, but his half-field shot skipped wide left. Real Monarchs began to pick up more steam and retain a majority of the possession, and in the 57th minute, the Monarchs looked to take the lead after being awarded a penalty kick. But Beach was able to stretch out, getting a hand to Luna’s shot and pushing it out for a corner.
Chelsea FC regained the lead in the 67th minute when Benjamin Elliot dribbled his way through and around multiple Monarchs players, a complete show of finesse and technicality. But the Monarchs would not be kept down for much longer as the Monarchs were awarded another penalty kick when Fonseca was taken down inside the box by the Chelsea goalkeeper. Fonseca stepped up and buried his shot into the back of the net, bringing the game level to 2-2.
Both sides pushed hard to reestablish the lead, with Chelsea nearly finding the game-winner in the 87th minute. Forward Omari Hutchinson cut through multiple Monarchs defenders inside the box and rocketed a right-footed shot, but Beavers was able to deflect the ball over the top woodwork, ending regulation in a 2-2 draw and sending the game into a shootout with kicks from the penalty mark.
In the shootout, Beavers set the tone by saving the first penalty and then burying the Monarch's first kick himself. After consecutive successful kicks from the penalty spot forward Terron Williams sunk the winning penalty into the top-right corner to edge out Chelsea 5-4 and earn an additional point for the Monarchs.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs will return to Rio Tinto Stadium to take on their second English Premier League 2 opponent Wolverhampton Wanderers “Wolves” on Saturday, July 23rd, at 10:30 a.m. MT. Tickets can be purchased on https://www.rsl.com/monarchs/tickets/single
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
CHE: Dion Rankine (Josh Brooking) 3rd minute: Brooking played a ball up the right side of the pitch to Rankine, who blistered through several Monarch's defenders before firing a point-blank right-footed shot underneath the goalkeeper and into the bottom-right corner of the net.
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Pedro Fonseca) 32nd minute: Fonseca laced a through ball towards the 18-yard-box, cutting in between several Chelsea defenders, where Mondi collected the ball and crushed a right-footed shot into the top-left corner.
CHE: Benjamin Elliot (Charlie Webster) 65th minute: Webster laid a ball off to Elliot at the edge of the box, who weaved through the entire Monarch's defense before tapping a shot past the keeper and into the back of the net.
RM: Pedro Fonseca (PK) 71st minute: After being awarded a penalty kick for a foul on Fonseca inside the 18-yard-box, the midfielder stepped up to the penalty spot and chipped the ball down the middle of the goal.
NOTES:
- The match marked the first-ever international match in MLS NEXT Pro history and the first of the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational.
Match: Real Monarchs vs Chelsea FC
Date: July 19, 2022
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Weather: Sunny and 90
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F (PK)
Real Monarchs 1 1 2 (5)
Chelsea FC 1 1 2 (4)
CHE: Dion Rankine (Josh Brooking) 3’
RM: Tyrone Mondi (Pedro Fonseca) 32’
CHE: Benjamin Elliot (Charlie Webster) 65’
RM: Pedro Fonseca (PK) 71’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (3-4-2-1): Gavin Beavers; Jaziel Orozco, Bobby Pierre (Bret Halsey 84’), Golden Mafwenta; Bode Hidalgo (Pierre Reedy 54’), Aziz Kayondo, Christian Nydegger Pedro Fonseca (Abokye Bikyeombe 79’); Tyrone Mondi (Chris Garcia 79’), Diego Luna (Terron Williams 64’); Axel Kei
Subs not used: Julio Benitez, Jude Wellings, Benjamin Rodriguez, Leo Torres, Yekeson Subah, Marcus Vazquez, Marcello Mondragon, Blake Kelly
Chelsea FC (4-2-3-1): Teddy Curd (Eddie Beach 46’); Josh Brooking (Xavier Simons 46’), Xavier Mbuyamba (Alfie Gilchrist 46’), Lewis Hall (Charlie Webster 46’); Billy Gilmour (Edwin Andersson 46’), Dion Rankine (Leo Castledine 46’), Harvey Vale (Derrick Abu 46’), Tino Anjorin (Omari Hutchinson 46’), Joe Haigh (Jimi Taurianine 46’); Jude Soonsup-Bell (Mason Burstow 46’), Jayden Wareham (Ben Elliot 46’)
Subs not used: Sami Tlemcani
Stats Summary: RM/CHE
Shots: 15/10
Shots on goal: 7/5
Saves: 3/5
Corner Kicks: 8/5
Fouls: 14/16
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
CHE: Jayden Wareham (caution) 26’
CHE: Derrick Abu (caution) 47’
RM: Bobby Pierre (caution) 77’
RM: Golden Mafwenta (caution) 90+6'
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Robbie Kosinski
Assistant Referees: Bennett Savage, Zackary Werner
Fourth Official: Joseph Semus
