TUKWILA, Washington (Sunday, April 2, 2023) – Real Monarchs (0-2-0, 0 points) suffered a 5-0 loss to Tacoma Defiance during their first road game of the 2023 campaign.
Real Monarchs started the game aggressively in the opening minutes, pressing high up the pitch forcing Tacoma Defiance to repeatedly lose the ball under pressure. However, after Monarchs committed multiple fouls, the Defiance began to find their footing.
In the 6th minute, Paul Rothrock beat Tyee Allen on the wing which allowed the forward to find adequate space for a driven cross which connected with Braudilo Rodrigues who tapped the ball into goal, putting Tacoma on the scoreboard. In the 23rd minute Defiance were awarded a corner after a blocked shot. Rothrock lofted the ball into the box and after the Monarchs failed to clear the danger, Abdoulaye Cissoko tapped in another goal and gave Tacoma a 2-0 lead. Tacoma continued to threaten for another goal in the first half maintaining the majority of possession, taking the 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
The second half was much like the first, with Tacoma Defiance quickly scoring their third goal of the match in the 56th minute after Monarchs failed to mark Eythor Bjorgolfsson who fired an uncontested shot past Fernando Delgado. Just two minutes later Moses Nyeman fouled Paul Rothrock in the penalty area in an attempt to win the ball and Tacoma were awarded a penalty, which Cissoko slotted into the back of the net.
In an attempt to regain momentum Real Monarchs made several substitutions with both Noah Ervin and Marcelo Mondragon coming off the bench to make their professional debuts late in the second half. Despite the personnel change Monarchs continued to struggle as Tacoma continually threatened to score. The last goal of the match came in the 77th minute as Paul Rothrock found Hal Uderitz inside the six-yard box who notched another goal for the Defiance, giving the home side the 5-0 victory.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs travel to PayPal Park to face off against San Jose Earthquakes II on Sunday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m. MT
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
TAC: Barudílio Rodriguez (Paul Rothrock) 6th minute: Rothrock found adequate space on the wing after beating his defender to drive a low cross towards Rodriguez who tapped the ball into goal.
TAC: Aboulaye Cissoko 24th minute: After being awarded a corner in the 23rd minute Rothrock crossed the ball into the box which found Cissoko for a tap in after the Monarchs failed to clear the danger.
TAC: Eythor Bjorgolsson (Paul Rothrock) 56th minute: Unmarked by any Monarch’s defender, Bjorgolsson received a driven pass in the penalty area from Rothrock. Upon receiving the ball Bjorgolsson made a quick turn to the center of the box and fired a shot into the bottom left corner.
TAC: Abdoulaye Cissoko (PK) 59th minute: Tacoma was awarded a penalty after a hard tackle by Moses Nyeman on Paul Rothrock. Elected to take the penalty, Cissoko successfully converted the chance for a shot into the bottom right corner.
TAC: Hal Uderitz (Paul Rothrock) 77th minute: Uderitz found the back of the net from inside the six yard box after connecting with Rothrock’s cross.
NOTES:
- Tyee Allen, Brayden Morrell, Angel Morales, Jaxon Stokes, and Marcelo Mondragon, all current members of the RSL Academy, made their professional debuts.
-Noah Ervin, a current member of RSL Arizona, made his professional debut
Lineups:
Real Monarchs (4-4-1-1): Fernando Delgado; Tyee Allen, Omar Alba, Brayden Morrell, Gennaro Nigro; Angel Morales (Marcelo Mondragon 71’), Griffin Dillion, Moses Nyeman, Terron Williams; Tyrone Mondi; Jaxon Stokes (Noah Ervin 60’)
Subs not used: Ben Erwin, Derrek Chan
Tacoma Defiance (4-2-3-1): Andrew Thomas; Reed Baker-Whiting, Hal Uderitz, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Travian Sousa; Fito Ovalle (Ethan Dobbelaere 60’), Frank Daroma; Paul Rothrock, Sota Kitahara, Braudílio Rodriguez (Blake Bowen 67’); Eythor Bjorgolsson
Subs not used: Jacob Castro, Wallis Lapsley, Gio Miglietti, Elias Katsaros
Stats Summary: SLC/TAC
Shots: 5/12
Shots on goal: 6/2
Saves: 2/1
Corner Kicks: 6/8
Fouls: 15/16
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RM: Griffin Dillon (caution) 64’
TAC: Sota Kitahara (caution) 76’
