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USL Real Monarchs

Real Monarchs SLC Head to the Northwest to Face S2

June 24, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Real Monarchs News Release


SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, June 24, 2015) - Real Monarchs SLC faces fellow USL expansion team Sounders FC 2 for the first time this season in its first of two matches in three days. Real Monarchs are coming off an 11-day break between matches after falling to Colorado Spring Switchbacks FC earlier this month. The match is set for Thursday, June 25th with an 8:30 p.m. MT kickoff and will be broadcast on RealMonarchs.com and Sounders FC's YouTube page.

Real Monarchs (1-7-5, 8 points, 12th West) return to league action after a bye-week in Week 14 of USL. The team fell 2-1 in its last match at home against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on June 13. In that contest, the Switchbacks went up early, scoring in the 10th and 30th minutes of play. Head Coach Freddy Juarez said both of Colorado Springs' goals came off small mistakes that proved costl. "In the second half you didn't see those same mistakes because players decided to step to their marks," Juarez said. FW Max Rauhofer pulled one back for the Monarchs with a 45th minute penalty kick. The final minutes of the first half saw Real earn 3 back-to-back corners. During the third corner Shintaro Harada - who scored Switchbacks FC's second goal - was whistled for the foul in the box and the ref pointed to the spot.

Seattle Sounders FC 2 (7-5-2, 23 points, 5th West) is coming off a 2-1 loss Saturday night to Arizona United SC, Real Monarchs' June 27th opponent. S2 felt confident coming to Scottsdale after scoring in the 19th minute to take the early lead when MF Pablo Rossi sent in a big cross to the back post and Nicholas Miele was there to head it home. Seattle's luck would change in the second half when MF Duncan McCormick was dismissed from the match with a red card and the visitors were down to 10 men. Arizona capitalized on the advantage scoring in the 60th and 63rd minutes to solidify its win. With Saturday's loss and other wins in the Western Conference, Seattle moves down to 5th in the conference.

How to Follow Real Monarchs v. Seattle Sounders FC 2

Coverage Begins: 8:30 p.m. MT

Video Streaming: RealMonarchs.com

Social: The @RealMonarchs Twitter and Facebook feeds will provide match updates

Monarchs History v Seattle Sounders FC 2

Thursday's contest will be the first matchup between the two USL clubs however S2 recently played a semi-reserve RSL squad in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 16th.

In that game S2 drew first blood just before halftime when RSL fell asleep during a throw-in and Sam Garza's low shot beat GK Jeff Attinella for the 1-0 lead.

Jeff Cassar elected to bring on MF Javier Morales in the second half who turned the game around starting the play that led to RSL's first goal and then scoring the game-winner off a indirect free kick in the penalty box as RSL advanced in the Open Cup with a 2-1 win.

International Duty - Welshman and Okwuonu

FW Emery Welshman returns to the club after two weeks with Guyana in its World Cup Qualifier vs. St. Vincent/Grenadines. Guyana was eliminated based on the away goal rule but Welshman notched two goals and two assists in the home leg of the series. Welshman is expected to be available for Freddy Juarez' team who needs his in-form play this week.

DF Boyd Okwuonu returned from the Toulon Tournament in France this past week starting for RSL during its Open Cup match vs. Sounders FC 2. Depending on RSL's needs Okwuonu may also be available for selection with Monarchs this week.

Two Matches in 72 Hours

The Monarchs will play two games in three days for the first of three times this season, the next two times come in August when it faces the Tulsa Roughnecks on August 13 and Oklahoma Energy on August 15 then again it will face Switchbacks FC on August 26 and Sounders FC 2 on August 28.

In USL, teams are allowed five substitutions during matches rather than the normal three per team. This rule is to help accommodate teams that play back-to-back series such as this week.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 24, 2015


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