This was always going to be a difficult match for Seattle Sounders 2. The Real Monarchs SLC are top of the West and have yet to lose at home. S2 would have been perfectly happy with a nice calm draw after the tumultuous last two weeks and there were times when it seemed like they might be able to pull it off. In the end though a few mistakes saw S2 fall 0-2.
S2 threatened the goal first in the 8’ when Shandon Hopeau cut in nicely to the corner of the 18 and hit a strong shot low to the near post but Jake Leeker got down well to parry it wide. In the next 10 minutes the Monarchs came close to getting on the end of some through balls but S2 weren’t playing a high line and the Monarchs just couldn’t quite get the perfect pass inbetween the CBs and Calle Brown.
In the 27’ the Monarchs were able to break through off of a mistake from Brown. The Monarchs put in a low cross close to Brown and he got down to intercept it but was unable to either hang on to it or clear it out of the danger area. Ultimately the ball fell to Charlie Adams at the top of the six and the season striker was able to easily put it in the net from close range.
Seattle young side didn’t get down and in the 33’ they came close to equalizing. Hopeau made a brilliant slaloming run through the midfield with the ball and was able to play Denso Ulysse in near the side of the 18. The right back was able to put in a good low ball that flashed across the top of the 6. It just missed Felix Chenkam but found David Estrada at the far post. However, the veteran forward was unable to get the right contact on the ball and ended up fluffing his shot and the Monarchs were able to clear.
At the half S2 took out Chenkam for Cameron Martin as the Cameroonian continues to build back up to fitness after missing close to 6 weeks with an injury. This moved up both Estrada and Jesse Daley which seemed to disorient the midfield as S2 struggled to string together passes in the second half.
Despite this Henry Wingo almost pulled a leveling goal out of nowhere in the 53’. Ulysse played a possession keeping ball out of the corner to Wingo who was still wide of the 18. That didn’t stop him from hitting a screamer from an acute angle and about 30 yards out. It had so much pace on it that it almost caught Leeker out at the near post. It would have been a goal of the year contender but Leeker was able to get just enough on it to send it over the goal.
Despite the Monarchs mostly dominating the run of play Wingo again had a chance to equalize in the 66’ after the Monarchs misjudged a high bouncing ball headed towards there goal. Wingo latched onto it at the top of the 18 with just Leeker to beat but instead of heading it around the helpless keeper he tried to volley it first time and blasted it straight into the goalies chest. That would be S2’s last shot at a tying goal.
In the 70’ Khai Brisco just turned off and quit playing defense down the left side. This let James Moberg dribble unimpeded into the box. The CBs were still set up to defend the cross so Moberg had a simple pass to play into Sebastián Velásquez between Rodrigue Ele and Tony Alfaro. Velásquez quickly turned with the ball and passed the ball into the net from 6 yards out. From there S2 were just to tired from playing at altitude to mount a serious attempt at a comeback and will look to break their losing streak in Phoenix on Friday.
Goals
SLC - Charlie Adams 26’
SLC - Sebastian Velasquez (James Moberg) 70’
S2 Lineup
4-2-3-1 | Calle Brown; Denso Ulysse, Rodrigue Ele, Tony Alfaro, Khai Brisco (Ibrahim Usman 77’); Jesse Daley (Gio Miglietti 71’), Antonee Burke-Gilroy; Henry Wingo, David Estrada, Shandon Hopeau; Felix Chenkam (Cam Martin 45’)
Substitutes not used: Sam Fowler, David Olsen, Nick Hinds, Gabe Threadgold