Real Monarchs rounded out the inaugural Winter Wasatch Cup with a 2-2 draw against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at the Zions Bank Training Center in Herriman, Utah on Thursday afternoon. The two teams traded goals throughout each half, with Lionel Abate Etoundi and Andrew Brody answering each of the Switchbacks goals to draw level.
Throughout the early moments of the first half, the Monarchs put the pressure in the Switchbacks defensive half as it looked for the go-ahead goal. The Switchbacks FC backline stood firm and opened up the counter attack to open up the scoring in the 17th minute through Rony Argueta after a small collision in the penalty area left the net open. The Monarchs answered the goal to finish off the first half when Etoundi found himself 1-v-1 with Colorado Springs goalkeeper Steward Ceus and coolly floated the ball over him for the equalizer.
The second half saw both sides trade possession and opportunities for the lead as Evan Finney was put to the test once again, nearly making massive back-to-back saves in the 53rd minute, but ultimately the second touch proved vital as Switchbacks forward Mike Seth found his side’s second goal. The Monarchs put up the pressure again, before Andrew Brody found his opportunity in the second half as a deflected shot left him open at the top of the box to fly a low shot to the far post for what proved to be the final goal of the game.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
COS: Rony Argueta, 17th minute: After a quick break got the Switchbacks into the attacking third, Rony Argueta found his opportunity moments after a collision in the penalty area left GK Evan Finney on the ground and a wide-open net for the opening goal.
SLC: Lionel Abate Etoundi, 31st minute: Etoundi tied up the first half after finding himself 1-on-1 with Colorado GK Steward Ceus. Etoundi calmly chipped the ball over Ceus, sending it in for the first half equalizer.
COS: Mike Seth, 53rd minute: Monarchs GK Evan Finney made a massive diving save to block a shot, but Mike Seth was there to clean up, putting Finney to the test immediately. Finney was able to get a touch on the ball, but it slipped past to give Colorado a temporary lead.
SLC: Andrew Brody, 71st minute: After the Monarchs pressure resulted in a deflected ball at the top of the penalty area, Andrew Brody took his moment to fire his shot past Ceus into the low corner of the far post to end the game level.
Match: Real Monarchs vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Date: February 21, 2019
Venue: Zions Bank Training Center
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 1 1 2
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1 1 2
COS: Rony Argueta, 17’
SLC: Lionel Abate Etoundi, 31’
COS: Mike Seth, 53’
SLC: Andrew Brody, 71’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC: Evan Finney; Andrew Brody, Kalen Ryden, James Moberg (Stanley Okumu, 60’), Steve Jasso (Noah Powder, 60’); Jordan Pena (Sam Brown, 90’), Ricardo Avila (Masta Kacher, 60’), Jack Blake; Maikel Chang (Josh Heard, 60’), Luis Palma (Damian German, 77’), Lionel Abate Etoundi (Douglas Martinez, 60’)
