HERRIMAN, Utah – Real Monarchs SLC and Austin Bold FC will both try to claim their first wins of the 2021 USL Championship season on Friday night as they square off at Zions Bank Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

@RealMonarchs (0-1-1, 1pt) host their second consecutive game after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the LA Galaxy II last Friday night in their home opener. The contest saw the Monarchs narrowly outshoot their visitors but fail to find the net as Malik Johnson and Ibrahim Bance led the side with two shots apiece. Real’s defeat continued the struggles the side has had on its home turf since the start of the 2020 season, with the side having gone 2-9-1 in that span, while Friday’s game will see the Monarchs try to claim their first win against Austin in the third meeting between the clubs after Bold FC took the regular-season series 1-0-1 in 2019.

@AustinBoldFC (0-1-0, 0pts) opened its new season on the road against New Mexico United last Saturday night and despite an early second-half goal by Nick Hinds suffered a 3-1 defeat at Isotopes Park. Bold FC featured a number of new faces in its lineup to start the season, including a new front line of Juan Torres, Sean Okoli and Jason Johnson. The side will be looking for a more consistent display from new goalkeeper Hugo Fauroux, though, who while making three saves – including a spectacular stop on Sergio Rivas that was nominated for the Championship’s Save of the Week award – also committed a key error that led to New Mexico’s game-winning goal by Brian Brown.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Real Monarchs SLC 34%, Austin Bold FC 40%, Draw 27%

Discipline

Real Monarchs SLC – None

Austin Bold FC – None