SANDY, Utah – Real Monarchs SLC forward Chandler Hoffman and defender James Moberg each tallied a first-half goal and the host side defeated the Swope Park Rangers 2-1 on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Western Conference play. The Monarchs improved to 2-0-0 all-time against Swope Park and continues to sit in second place in the West with a 5-1-0 record and 13 points. Kharlton Belmar put the Rangers on the score sheet early in the second half. The Rangers, who had posted seven consecutive regular-season wins dating back to the 2016 campaign, have now dropped back-to-back matches against Phoenix Rising FC last week and now against Real. Swope Park is now 3-2-0 (9 points).

Scoring:
19’ – SLC – Chandler Hoffman (Max Lachowecki)
36’ – SLC – James Moberg
48’ – SPR – Kharlton Belmar

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Monarchs midfielder Ricardo Velazco created plenty of chaos early on against the Rangers, drawing a couple early yellow cards against James Musa and Amer Didic. Velazco then provided the buildup on the game’s opening goal with the charge up-field and a dish to left back Max Lachowecki at the end line. Swope Park goalkeeper David Greczek ran off his line toward the edge of the six-yard area, and that’s when Lachowecki spotted Chandler Hoffman. Hoffman had to stretch back a tad to get his left foot around the ball but had no problems with the finish inside the left post for a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. It was Hoffman’s team-leading fourth goal of the season.

• 2. With one member of the Monarchs’ back line contributing on the first goal, center back James Moberg decided to get in the act offensively. Velazco once again was the initial setup man with the free kick to the left of the box. His delivery took a deflection and Moberg was positioned at the right spot inside the 18. Moberg’s right-footed strike snuck inside the left post for his second goal and prompted an intense celebration as he rushed toward his bench to enjoy the 2-0 cushion in the 36th minute.

• 3. The Rangers made a game of it with an early goal in the second half. Kharlton Belmar, the 2015 USL Rookie of the Year, took advantage of a mistimed Monarchs clearance for his team-leading third goal of the season in the 48th minute. Belmar’s finish into the left side of the frame put Swope Park within one, but it came with a bit of a price as his post-goal reaction resulted in a yellow card. In second-half stoppage time, the Rangers nearly found an equalizer, but Real goalkeeper Connor Sparrow came up with a massive save to maintain the one-goal lead.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Ricardo Velazco, Real Monarchs SLC – Velazco played a role in the buildup of both first-half goals to give the Monarchs a two-goal advantage heading into halftime.

Upcoming Games:
Real Monarchs SLC at LA Galaxy II – May 10, 10:30 p.m. ET, StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium
Swope Park Rangers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – May 5, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field