Sandy, Utah (Wednesday, September 2, 2015) – Real Monarchs SLC has shown promise all season long. Of late, that promise has turned into results as the Monarchs have won three consecutive matches after their 2-0 win over Oklahoma City Energy FC in front of 2,230 in attendance at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Emery Welshman scored his sixth goal of the season in the first half, then Lucas Baldin added a second-half penalty as Lalo Fernandez recorded the shutout to lift the Monarchs to a third straight victory after previous wins over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks and Seattle Sounders FC 2 last week.
After threatening to get on the board throughout the first half, he Monarchs finally broke through in the 36th minute when MF Emery Welshman pressed up the left side and got to the endline, slaloming in and out of Oklahoma City defenders before beating the goalkeeper between his legs for his sixth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
Real Monarchs held an 8-4 shots advantage in the first half, keeping Oklahoma City without a first-half shot on goal.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Oklahoma City had a chance to equalize when Real Salt Lake on-loan midfielder John Stertzer was whistled for a foul in the box. Danni Konig stepped to the penalty spot, but his shot missed high and the Monarchs held their 1-0 advantage.
In the 67th minute Kyle Greig got free at the edge of the box, but his shot was blocked off his foot by Fernandez and cleared from danger.
The Monarchs made OKC pay for those miscues in the 69th minute after Welshman drew a penalty. Dribbling up the left side of the box, Welshman was brought down from behind and the referee pointed to the spot. MF Lucas Baldin thumped his shot past the keeper and the Monarchs clung to that 2-0 lead the rest of the way for the third win in eight days.
Real Monarchs have two matches remaining on the calendar for 2015, both against Arizona United. The first match will be in Arizona on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MT and the final match of the regular season will be on September 12 at Rio Tinto Stadium with kickoff at 4 p.m. MT.
REAL MONARCHS SLC 2-0 OKLAHOMA CITY ENERGY FC
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 2015 – RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Monarchs 1 1 2
Oklahoma City Energy FC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
SLC: Emery Welshman 36’
SLC: Lucas Baldin (PK) 69’
Misconduct Summary:
OKC: Gareth Evans (Yellow; Dissent) 43’
OKC: Michael Thomas (Yellow; Foul) 55’
OKC: Kyle Greig (Yellow; Foul) 64’
OKC: Daniel Gonzalez (Yellow; Foul) 82’
Lineups:
Real Monarchs SLC (4-2-3-1): Lalo Fernandez; Tyler Arnone, Phanuel Kavita, Emilio Orozco, Riley McGovern; John Stertzer, Pecka; Maikon Orellana (Eti Tavares 80’), Lucas Baldin (Alec Sundly 80’), Emery Welshman (Fito Ovalle 87’); Devon Sandoval (Max Rauhofer 81’).
Substitutes Not Used: Eric Osswald, Darion Copeland, Jordan Murrell.
Oklahoma City Energy FC (4-3-3): Evan Newton; Michael Thomas, Jacob VanCompernolle, Cyprian Hedrick, Christian Duke (Greg Mulamba 87’); Gareth Evans, Sebastian Dalgaard, Casey Townsend; Chuy Sanchez (Daniel Gonzalez), Danni Konig, Kyle Greig (Peabo Doue 81’).
Substitutes Not Used: Pete Toth, Michael Harris, Coady Andrews.
