REAL MONARCHS SLC CLAIMS 5-3 VICTORY OVER RIO GRANDE VALLEY FC
Martinez Brace and Goals from Heard, Powder and Chang Help Monarchs Snap Winless Run
HERRIMAN, Utah. (Saturday, June 8, 2019) – Real Monarchs SLC (4-6-3, 15 points) snapped its winless skid with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night at Zions Bank Stadium.
The Monarchs were led by two goals from FW DouglasMartinez and goals from MFs Josh Heard, Maikel Chang and DF Noah Powder.
Postgame Quotes from SLC v RGV.
The Monarchs opened up the night with a dominating first half that saw the home side pick up three goals before the half-time whistle. Martinez picked up the first goal in the 13th minute after grabbing the long ball from MF Ricardo Ávila. As the RGV goalkeeper Michael Nelson rushed out to stop the attack, Martinez perfectly floated the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper for the first goal. Heard doubled the lead moments later after redirecting a headed effort from Martinez before Chang rifled a shot from distance less than a minute later to give the Monarchs a three-goal lead before break.
RGV came out of the locker room flying, finding a goal in the 60th minute through Michael Salazar who headed in at the back post. Then in the 76th minute, Martinez notched his second goal of the night when he fired home from close range. RGV cut the lead in half with another header at the back post from Carlos Small in the 83rd minute. The most emphatic goal of the night came from Powder who in 88th minute struck a beautiful freekick from 35 yards out to bring the score to 5-2. RGV fought until the end however, dragging another goal back through Small who put the ball in from close range as the match ended 5-3.
UP NEXT: Real Monarchs SLC will take a week-long break before returning to action on the road against Four-Corners rival, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The contest is scheduled for Saturday June 22 where kick off from Weidner Field is set for 7:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SLC: Douglas Martinez (Ricardo Ávila), 13th minute – After picking up the longball in from Ricardo Ávila at the corner of the penalty area, Martinez saw his opportunity as RGV goalkeeper Michael Nelson rushed out to put a stop to the attack. Martinez calmly put the ball over Nelson and floated it into the back of the net for an early opening goal.
SLC: Josh Heard (Douglas Martínez), 21st minute – Following the corner kick, Douglas Martinez got a head on to the ball that began to go just wide of the net. Josh Heard was there at the near post however, to redirect the ball to double the Monarchs lead.
SLC: Maikel Chang (Josh Heard), 22nd minute – The Monarchs set up a series of passes to open up the RGV defense before Heard cut the ball into the path of Maikel Chang just outside of the box. Chang took advantage of the gap and rifled a long distance shot to tally the third Monarchs goal on the night.
RGV: Michael Salazar (Robert Coronado), 60th minute – Rio Grande Valley earned a corner that it took low and out to set up a long pass from outside the penalty area. Coronado set the ball to the far corner where Michael Salazar headed the ball in to pull one back on the board.
SLC: Douglas Martínez (Maikel Chang), 76th minute: Brilliant passing saw Chang receive the ball near the 18-yard box as he looked for the shot. Dragging a defender with him, Chang elected to pass the ball to Martinez who curled in a shot from 12 yards for his second of the evening.
RGV: Carlos Small (Isidro Martinez), 83rd minute: Another curling effort towards the back post of the Monarchs goal saw Small rise up and head home his first goal of the night.
SLC: Noah Powder, 88th minute: Lining up a freekick 35 yards from goal, Powder struck a world-class freekick into the top corner of the net, leaving the RGV goalkeeper with no chance at the shot.
RGV: Carlos Small, 90th minute + 3: After the ball bounced around inside the area, Small finished from close range to notch his second goal of the evening.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
SLC: Andrew Putna, 57th minute: The Toros got a strong run in towards goal early in the second half, getting around the Monarchs defense to put Putna to the test. Putna answered the call and stepped up big, blocking the shot to protect the scoring.
NOTES:
- DF Noah Powder scored his first goal for the Monarchs with his world-class freekick in the 88th minute.
- MF Maikel Chang now leads the team with six goals in 2019.
- The win put an end to the Monarchs four-match winless skid.
Match: Real Monarchs SLC vs Rio Grande Valley FC
Date: June 8, 2019
Venue: Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah
Attendance: 1,709
Weather: 56 degrees and clear skies
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Monarchs SLC 3 2 5
Rio Grande Valley FC 0 3 3
SLC: Douglas Martinez (Ricardo Ávila), 13’
SLC: Josh Heard (Douglas Martínez), 21’
SLC: Maikel Chang (Josh Heard), 22’
RGV: Michael Salazar (Robert Coronado), 60’
SLC: Douglas Martínez (Maikel Chang), 76’
RGV: Carlos Small (Isidro Martinez), 83’
SLC: Noah Powder, 88’
RGV: Carlos Small, 90’+3
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Andrew Putna; Noah Powder, Konrad Plewa, Kalen Ryden, Steve Jasso (Delentz Pierre, 46’); Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang, Ricardo Avila, Josh Heard, Masta Kacher (Kyle Coffee, 84’); Douglas Martinez (Lionel Abate Etoundi, 84’)
Subs not used: Evan Finney, Pablo Ruiz, Damian German, Jordan Pena
Rio Grande Valley FC (4-2-3-1): Michael Nelson; Conor Donovan, Robert Castellanos, Sergio Mean (Robert Coronado 39’), Andrew Samuels; Isidro Martinez, Romilio Hernandez, Jesus Enriquez, Nico Lemoine (Camilo Monroy, 68’), Wilmer Cabrera (Carlos Small, 74’); Michael Salazar
Subs not used: Nico Corti, Kyle Adams, Brad Dunwell, Victor Garza
Stats Summary: SLC/RGV
Shots: 21 / 13
Shots on Goal: 9 / 5
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 7
Fouls: 24 / 8
Offside: 1 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SLC – Noah Powder (Caution) 48’
SLC – Douglas Martínez (Caution) 63’
RGV – Jesus Enriquez (Caution) 64’
SLC – Delentz Pierre (Caution) 66’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Elton Garcia
Assistant Referees: Stephen McGonagle, Karsten Gillwald
4th Official: Scott Jones
