SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, July 19, 2023) – Real Monarchs came-from-behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the first of two matchups in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational, thanks to an equalizer from Bertin Jacquesson and a game-winner in the 83rd minute from 16-year-old Owen Anderson.
The Monarchs’ starting lineup included eight players on Major League Soccer contracts for Real Salt Lake, including goalkeeper Gavin Beavers and U-22 Initiative Colombians Andres Gómez and Nelson Palacio. The first-team experience was on full display in the opening minutes as the Monarchs fired off five shots, three of which required saves from Crystal Palace ‘keeper Joe Whitworth.
Despite trailing in the run of play, Palace drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Scott Banks lifted a free kick off a defender in the wall and into the side netting, beating the outstretched arms of Beavers for the 1-0 lead. The Monarchs continued to press up the field, forcing the Palace rearguard to play on the back foot, but couldn’t the squad was unable to find the back of the net in the final minutes of the first half and the visitors took the 1-0 into the halftime break.
The Monarchs picked up where they left off to start the second half, charging down the field threatening for an equalizer, and in the 51st minute the breakthrough came. Gómez won possession in the midfield and laid the ball off to defender Bode Hidalgo on the right side, who sent a centering pass in the box onto the foot of a sliding Jacquesson for a simple tap-in.
Crystal Palace looked to retake the lead in the 63rd minute from a header inside the six, but Beavers got big and swallowed up the attempt. After a long 20 minutes of back-and-forth play between the two sides, the Monarchs found the go-ahead goal in the 83rd. Forward Ilijah Paul stormed down the left wing before ripping a shot off from a tight angle, with the ball bouncing off the ‘keeper. Academy product Owen Anderson was in the right place at the right time for the put-in to go up 2-1 with under 10 minutes to play. The Monarchs backline continued strong through the remainder of the match to seal the opening victory of the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational.
UP NEXT: The Monarchs will continue in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational, facing German side TSG Hoffenheim on Monday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. at Zions Bank Stadium.
Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Gavin Beavers; Bode Hidalgo (Bobby Pierre 70’), Keller Storlie (Luis Rivera 71’), Delentz Pierre, Gennaro Nigro; Darón Iskenderian (Owen Anderson 71’), Moses Nyeman, Nelson Palacio (Amferny Sinclair 70’); Andrés Gómez (Griffin Dillon 70’), Bertin Jacquesson, Ilijah Paul
Subs not used: Derrek Chan, Izzy Amparo, Dominic Berríos, Cayne Madhlangove
Crystal Palace U21 (4-2-3-1): Joe Whitworth; Kaden Rodney, Noah Watson, Rio Cardines (Mofe Jemide 66’), Killian Phillips (Jake Grante 46’); Dylan Reid (David Obou 66’), Scott Banks (Fionn Mooney 66’); Jack Wells-Morrisson (Jadan Raymond 66’), Luke Plange (Adler Nascimento 66’), Franco Umeh-Chibueze; Victor Akinwale (Ademola Ola-Adebomi 66’)
Subs not used: Billy Eastwood, Chimaechi Eze, Jackson Izquierdo
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
CRY: Dylan Reid (caution) 6’
CRY: Killian Phillips (caution) 17’
RM: Gennaro Nigro (caution) 58’
CRY: Franco Umeh-Chibueze (caution) 75’
RM: Griffin Dillon (caution) 90’+2’
