Real Monarchs closed out the 2020 preseason with a 3-2 loss to Sacramento Republic FC. RSL men Chris Garcia and Alvin Jones found the goals for the Monarchs on the day.
Despite Sacramento looking strong in the early moments, Real Monarchs took control and dominated the chances in the first half after Jones beautifully rocketed a shot from a freekick opportunity that beat out Sacramento goalkeeper Adam Grinwis in the 25th minute before Garcia doubled the Monarchs scoring with a simple tap in at the half hour mark. In the final moments of the first half, Sacramento Republic began to come alive, however did not have the answers to get past the Monarchs backline.
Sacramento made a statement coming out in the second half with a quick goal immediately after kickoff as Villyan Bijev skipped the ball across goal to find Kharlton Belmar to cut the deficit in half. Sacramento carried the momentum forward throughout the second half, keeping the Monarchs on the defensive, adding two more goals through a Bijev brace in the 73rd and the 87thminute.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs kicks off the 2020 USL Championship season and its title-defense against San Antonio FC. The contest is scheduled to be played on Saturday, March 7, in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is set for 6:30p.m. MT and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLC: Alvin Jones, 27th minute: After Sacramento’s Sam Werner provided the Monarchs with a free kick opportunity, Alvin Jones stepped up from more than 25 yards out. Jones took the kick that fired with speed, changing its trajectory to the near post to beat out Adam Grinwis for a spectacular first goal.
SLC: Chris Garcia (Milan Iloski), 30th minute: Crowded by two defenders, Iloski was able to slip the ball out of traffic and into the path of Garcia who was given time and space with to get into a dangerous spot against the Sacramento goalkeeper. Garcia tapped in an easy goal to the far post to tuck in the second Monarchs goal.
SAC: Kharlton Belmar (Villyan Bijev), 46th minute: Bijev took a sharp run down the left hand taking a pass that skipped across goal to find the foot of Belmar, who took an easy tap to redirect the ball into goal for to cut the Monarchs lead in half.
SAC: Villyan Bijev (Mario Penagos), 73rd minute: From the top of the penalty area, Penagos lightly tapped the ball over to Bijev on corner of the penalty area. Bijev took the moment with a chance, firing a shot that curved towards the far corner, beautifully pocketing into the top right corner of the net.
SAC: Villyan Bijev, 87th minute: From a freekick, Sacramento sent in a ball that was headed towards goal. David Ochoa leaped to make the save, deflecting the ball out and at the feet of Bijev who found himself in the right place at the right time. With a simple tap in past Ochoa, Bijev provided Sacramento with the late lead.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
SLC: David Ochoa, 18th minute: Sacramento’s Cameron Iwasa made a break on towards the Monarchs goal, rifling a shot at the near post from point-blank looking for an opening goal. Ochoa came out big, making the big deflection to keep the early scoring level.
NOTES:
- The Monarchs line-up fielded may players from Real Salt Lake including David Ochoa, Ashtone Morgan, Alvin Jones, Everton Luiz and Chris Garcia and Milan Iloski.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC at Sacramento Republic FC
Date: February 29, 2020
Venue: Papa Murphy’s Park
Weather: 57 degrees and Mostly Cloudy
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 2 0 2
Sacramento Republic FC 0 3 3
SLC – Alvin Jones, 27’
SLC – Chris Garcia (Milan Iloski), 30’
SAC – Kharlton Belmar (Villyan Bijev), 46’
SAC – Villyan Bijev (Mario Penagos), 73’
SAC – Villyan Bijev, 87’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs Starting XI: David Ochoa, Alvin Jones, Erik Holt, Ashtone Morgan, Taylor Peay, Everton Luiz (Jordan Pena, 83’), Arturo Rodriguez (Kyle Coffee, 81’), Sam Brown, Chris Garcia (Julian Vazquez), Dayonn Harris (Noah Powder, 69’), Milan Iloski
Sacramento Republic FC: Adam Grinwis, Hayden Sargis, Matt Mahoney, Dariusz Formella (Kharlton Belmar, 46’), Sam Werner, Drew Skundrich, Juan Barahona, Villyan Bijev, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Jordan McCrary, Cameron Iwasa (Mario Penagos, 71’)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Chris Garcia (Caution) 25’
SAC – Sam Werner (Caution) 25’
SLC – Dayonn Harris (Caution), 40’
SAC – Drew Skundrich (Caution), 76’
SLC – Alvin Jones (Caution), 89’
