USL Game Report

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

SANDY, Utah – It was a historic night at Rio Tinto Stadium as Real Monarchs SLC hosted the club’s first home match in its inaugural season in the USL.  Defender Justen Glad scored the club’s first home goal and the team earned a point with a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers 2.

Fatawu Safiu tallied the game’s first goal for T2. With the road draw, T2 moved to 2-0-1 on the season with seven points and now leads the West one point ahead of Seattle Sounders FC 2 (2-0-0), Arizona United SC (2-0-0) and the Austin Aztex (2-1-0).

The Monarchs outshot Portland 11-5, taking control of the match in the second half, but couldn’t find the match-winner, moving their record to 0-1-2 (2 points).

In the seventh minute, Portland got out to an early lead on a counter-attack. Safiu carried the ball up the right side into the box and ripped a shot near-post that beat goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez, who was caught leaning to the opposite side and caught a piece of the shot with his trailing leg, but not enough to stop the shot and the 1-0 Portland lead.  Fernandez and Glad were two of six players on loan for the match from Real Salt Lake.

The Monarchs struck back in the 27th minute off a goal from Glad.  Midfielder Lucas Baldin sent a hard free kick into the box from the left side and Glad rose to head it in from inside the six-yard box for the club’s first home goal, equalizing at 1-1.

In an even first half that finished with both teams register three shots, the 1-1 tally held until halftime.

Things started to tilt in favor of the Monarchs in the second half and in the 69th minute, Portland defender Rennico Clarke received his second caution in as many minutes and was ejected from the match, leaving the Monarchs on the man advantage for the final 21 minutes.

In the 75th minute, Portland nearly snatched the lead on a breakaway, as Kharlton Belmar got free up the right side, but his shot missed just over the crossbar.

The Monarchs were knocking on the door throughout the half and in the 86th minute the ball fell to midfielder Lennon Celestino for a shot that missed just over the crossbar on the left side.  Two minutes later, another Monarchs opportunity was narrowly over the bar and the score remained 1-1.

In the first minute of stoppage time, defender Boyd Okwuonu crossed the ball to Pecka, whose shot was headed toward the left side of the frame. Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson made the save of the match, stretching to his right to maintain the 1-1 draw.

Next up, T2 travel to face Seattle Sounders FC 2 and Real Monarchs SLC hosts Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. Both games are on Saturday.