CARSON, Calif. (Sunday, March 22, 2015) – It was a night of firsts for Real Monarchs on Sunday night. In the club’s inaugural match in the USL season, the Monarchs earned their first point in club history with a scoreless draw against LA Galaxy II.
Playing at the Track and Field Stadium at the StubHub Center, Real Monarchs held off the attack from Galaxy II throughout the match, including a stellar first-half save from GK Lalo Fernandez – one of seven players on loan from Real Salt Lake.
The Monarchs played out of the 4-3-3 formation employed by the parent club and while they weren’t able to generate much in the attack, they maintained their defensive shape and limited the Galaxy II’s chances.
In the 28th minute, Fernandez came up big, making a diving stop on a shot from just outside the 18-yard box off the foot of LA forward Adonis Amaya.
Fernandez would come up big throughout the match and had another save in the 48th minute that spilled in front of the net, only to be cleared by MF Fito Ovalle. Moments later, FW Sebastian Saucedo had a shot that force LA goalkeeper Clement Diop.
A late flurry by LA again challenged Fernandez, particularly off a series of corner kicks but he held off the second-year USL club to earn the clean sheet.
The Monarchs will play one more road match before making the club’s home debut. They will face Portland Timbers 2 on the road on March 29 before hosting Timbers 2 at Rio Tinto Stadium in the club’s first home match April 8.
Real Monarchs Match Notes – LA-RM
- The Monarchs had seven players on loan from Real Salt Lake, all in the starting lineup. They were Lalo Fernandez, Aaron Maund, Phanuel Kavita, Boyd Okwuonu, John Stertzer, Fito Ovalle and Sebastian Saucedo.
- Forward Emery Welshman missed the match while away with the Guyana National Team.
- Three MLS affiliates made their USL debuts over the weekend. In addition to the Monarch’s road draw, Sounders FC 2 won 4-2 over Sacramento Republic FC while Toronto FC II fell 3-2 to the Charleston Battery.
LA GALAXY II 0-0 REAL MONARCHS SLC
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2015
STUBHUB CENTER TRACK AND FIELD STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
LA Galaxy II 0 0 0
Real Monarchs SLC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
None.
Misconduct Summary:
RM: Riley McGovern (Yellow, Foul) – 29’
RM: Fito Ovalle (Yellow, Foul) – 52’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-3-3): Lalo Fernandez; Boyd Okwuonu, Aaron Maund, Phanuel Kavita, Riley McGovern; John Stertzer, Fito Ovalle (Lennon Celestino – 81’), Lucas Baldin; Eti Tavares (Coco Navarro – 82’), Sebastian Saucedo (Jose Hernandez – 87’), Ricardo Velazco.
Substitutes not used: Victor Rodriguez, Marvin Baumgartner, Garrett Losee, Leon Brown.
LA Galaxy II (4-4-2): Clement Diop; Oscar Sorto, A.J. DeLaGarza, Daniel Steres, Jason Bli; Bradford Jamieson IV (Alejandro Covarrubias – 79’), Ignacio Maganto, Rafael Garcia, Raul Mendiola; Travis Bowen (Ariel Lassiter – 61’), Adonis Amaya (Jack McBean – 62’).
Substitutes not used: Nicholas Shackleford, Jaime Villarreal, Lee Nishanian, Ariel Lassiter, Elijah Martin.
