HERRIMAN, Utah (August 20, 2022) – Real Monarchs (3-14-2, 11 points, 10th in West) travel to face Minnesota United FC 2 (8-7-4, 31 points, 7th in West) in the second meeting of the season between the two clubs, at National Sports Center Stadium on Sunday, August 21 with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
Sunday’s match, as well as all Real Monarchs matches this season, will be streamed live via www.MLSnextPro.com.
Real Monarchs vs Minnesota United FC 2
National Sports Center Stadium; Blaine, Minnesota
Sunday, August 21 at 7:00 p.m. MT
Game Notes for Sunday’s RM vs MNUFC2 game Available Online
The Adobe PDF version of the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Game Guide in advance of Sunday’s contest between Real Monarchs and Minnesota United FC 2 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 (3-14-2, 11 points); Minnesota United FC 2 (8-7-4, 31 points)
Head-to-Head: Last time these two squads met was a high-scoring affair as Minnesota came out of Zions Bank Stadium triumphant over Real Monarchs 3-2. After trailing 2-0 at halftime, the Monarchs cut the lead in the 47th minute off a Bobby Pierre header but couldn’t overcome the two-goal deficit. Additionally, Pedro Fonseca scored the second goal of the match for the Monarchs.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Sunday’s match in Minnesota is the second of a two-match road trip for Real Monarchs and the third and final two-match road trip of the season for the Utah side. While the Monarchs are on a recent hot streak at home, they have struggled to take that success on the road, earning only one point in their 10 previous road matches. The Club will hope to earn their first win on the road this season against a struggling Minnesota side. Interestingly, Minnesota earned their first win of the season in Utah against the Monarchs back in April.
HOMEGROWN WATCHLIST
Both sides have promising homegrown players featured. Real Salt Lake Homegrowns Axel Kei, Chris Garcia, Jaziel Orozco, and Gavin Beavers lead the young Monarchs squad with Kei and Garcia sparking the offense, registering two goals and four assists over the last six matches. On the defense, Orozco has solidified the defense while helping Beavers earn two clean sheets in regular season play. Zac Farnsworth, another
RSL Homegrown, has been working his way back from injury as he’s made appearances in the last three matches.
Minnesota’s club is led by Aziel Jackson, a 20-year-old Homegrown with eight goals and seven assists. Jackson is tied for second in the league in assists, trailing only Inter Miami FC 2’s Romeo Beckham. The match between the two club’s will be a battle of the Homegrowns. Jackson is joined on the pitch by fellow Homegrown Devin Padelford who has helped MNUFC 2 concede the tenth fewest goals in the league.
BETWEEN THE POSTS
RSL Homegrown Gavin Beavers has had solid performances in goal the past six weeks, earning three clean sheets across all competitions. Beavers has also helped the Club see success at home with a five win home-unbeaten streak, catching the eye of U-19 Youth National Team Coach Marko Mitrovic. Since the start of the season, Beavers has been called into the U-19 USYNT Camp three times, most recently on July 25 after earning a 1-0 shutout over Sporting Kansas City II. Additionally, Beavers has performed well even when the Monarchs have dropped points like when he recorded eight saves in the Club’s loss to North Texas SC last week, only conceding goals on penalty kicks and rebounds from unmarked opponents in front of the net.
