USL Game Report

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

SANDY, Utah - It took longer than the team had hoped, but Real Monarchs SLC earned the first win in club history on Wednesday in dramatic fashion, ousting the defending USL champion Sacramento Republic, 1-0, at Rio Tinto Stadium. Uruguayan forward Max Rauhofer scored his second goal of the season and goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez earned his second shutout as the Monarchs improved to 1-4-2 (5 pts) on the season.

The Monarchs first big chance arrived in the 38th minute after a great buildup down the right side, which connected a string a passes that led to midfielder Alec Sundly crossing the ball to Rauhofer in the middle of the penalty area. Rauhofer gathered the pass, but it was slightly behind him when he shot and the attempt on goal sailed high. Rauhofer finished the first half with three of the six shots taken by the Monarchs, but the match remained scoreless heading into the second half.

Sacramento's Justin Braun,  himself a former Real Salt Lake forward and Utah native, had a chance in the 51st minute, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area spilled into the arms of Fernandez for the save.

The Monarchs finally broke through in the 68th minute when Rauhofer scored his second goal of the season. Midfielder John Stertzer put the ball into the penalty area from midfield and it was knocked away by a Sacramento defender. The attempted clearance only went as far as Fito Ovalle 25 yards out, and he skipped a ball bound for the left corner. However, it struck Rauhofer in the middle of the penalty area, and he redirected it inside the right post for a 1-0 lead.

In the 78th minute, Rauhofer nearly added to that lead with a 35-yard chip from the left side. The Uruguayan picked the ball off his defender and then sent an arcing shot toward the net, trying to take advantage of Sacramento goalkeeper Patrick McLain playing off his line. However, the shot missed just over the top corner of the net for a goal kick.

Monarchs forward Emery Welshman almost got his first goal of the season in the 87th minute, racing out on a ball from the midfield, but his 1-on-1 effort was stopped by McLain. Welshman got another contested shot off the rebound but McLain smothered the effort to end the opportunity.

Sacramento pressed for the equalizer and in the 89th minute midfielder Gabe Gonzalez got his head on a ball from the left side, but his shot was shuffled away at the near post by Fernandez and the Monarchs defended the corner kick to keep Sacramento off the board.

That would prove Republic FC's last big opportunity, as Rauhofer’s goal stood up for the historic first win for the Monarchs. The next match for the Monarchs will come on May 9 on the road against the Austin Aztex.