USL Real Monarchs

Real Monarchs Fall Again to OC Blues, Losing 1-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium

Published on August 2, 2015 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Real Monarchs News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Monarchs SLC suffered a one-goal loss to the Orange County Blues for the second time in as many weeks, falling 1-2 Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium after a 0-1 loss last week. Monarchs were unable to hold onto an early second-half lead following a Max Rauhofer penalty kick in the 59th minute, as a pair of Blues goals by FW Pavle Popara in the 63rd and 73rd minutes put the visitors in front.

Monarchs Head Coach Freddy Juarez rolled out some new faces after the club played just three games in July, as RSL loanees GK Lalo Fernandez, DF Phanuel Kavita - each of whom have made several USL appearances this year - were joined by current RSL and former Ft. Lauderdale Strikers MF Wellington Peckaert - known simply as "Pecka" - in the starting lineup. Joining them was MF Jose Hernandez, recently named the US Soccer Development Academy U-18 West Player of the Year.

Neither side threatened the goal in the first 45 minutes, as narrowly-missed passes and attack-denying tackles ruled the day. The game came to life in the second half for the crowd of 5,791 at Rio Tinto Stadium, as all three goals, seven yellow cards and three ejections occurred in the final stanza.

Monarchs FW Emery Welshman - he of the half-chances in and around the box - got around OC Blues DF Brenton Griffiths in the 57th minute and was taken down in the penalty area, leading to the Rauhofer PK conversion to give the home side a 1-0 lead, and the Uruguayan striker's club-high 7th goal of the season.

That lead was short-lived, however, as the Blues turned up the pressure, causing Fernandez to make two saves and then clear a ball off the line before Popara struck via header for the first of his two goals in the 63rd minute. That goal came on a bizarre bounce that saw the ball ping around the mixer, denied on several occasions before a looping bounce rewarded Popara.

In the 73rd minute, Popara struck again for what proved to be the game-winner, blasting a rocket to the back of the net as the Monarchs defense invited the opportunity. The deficit injected energy to Juarez' side, however, as the Monarchs pushed ahead, seeking the equalizer. First Rauhofer, then Welshman each saw excellent efforts denied by Blues GK Pepe Miranda, while in the 85th minute Miranda came up huge again, denying substitute Maikon Orellana after a spectacular dummy by Rauhofer.

Midway through stoppage time, another Monarchs substitute, MF Lucas Baldin, struck a 22-yard free kick around the wall, but stood helplessly as the apparent equalizer caromed off the post after the first-year player had Miranda leaning the wrong way.

The final moments of the match were marred by scuffle between the teams, resulting in red cards for both Miranda and Rauhofer, as well as a second yellow card to Griffiths, forcing the teams to finish 10 v 9. Real Monarchs will return to Rio Tinto Stadium next Saturday, August 8, hosting the Tulsa Roughnecks at 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at RealMoanrchs.com.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 2, 2015


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