Real Monarchs Fall at Home to Tacoma Defiance

May 5, 2023 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Real Monarchs News Release

HERRIMAN, Utah – Real Monarchs (3-4-0, 9 points) dropped a 2-1 result at Zions Bank Stadium to the Pacific Division leaders, Tacoma Defiance. A first-half penalty save by goalkeeper Fernando Delgago and a second-half goal from Duncan Jarvie were not enough to hold off the visiting side.

Throughout much of the first half the Monarchs struggled to establish dominant possession against the offensively potent Tacoma Defiance, made worse when team captain Tyrone Mondi went down with an injury in the 23rd minute, forcing an early substitution. Tacoma was gifted an opportunity to go ahead in the 42nd minute when

defender Omar Alba made an aggressive tackle on Eythor Bjørgolfsson inside the 18-yard-box. But the heroics of Delgado prevented the initial penalty shot from Abdoulaye Cissoko, and a masterful point-blank save on the deflection kept the score 0-0 heading into the halftime break.

The start of the second half saw the Monarchs, once again, pressed on their backheels withstanding the oncoming pressure of the Defiance offense. Despite not having recorded a shot on goal, it was the Monarchs who broke through when Jarvie pounced on the end of a chipped pass from Gilberto Garcia, slotting a shot underneath the Tacoma goalkeeper for the 1-0 lead. Tacoma would be quick to respond as Bjørgolfsson beat the Monarchs defense to a head in a cross four minutes later, bringing the score level at 1-1.

With just minutes remaining in regulation, Braduillo Rodriguez emphatically sent the ball in the back of the net to put Tacoma up 2-1. Despite the Monarchs best efforts, the team was unable to find the equalizer and the match ended 2-1 in favor of the visiting side.

UP NEXT: Real Monarchs take to the road to play against Houston Dynamo 2 next weekend on Sunday, May 14 at 5:00 pm M.T. at SaberCats Stadium. The team will return to Zions Bank Stadium on Sunday, May 21 when they host LAFC at 4:00 p.m. MT.

GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:

RM: (Duncan Jarvie) Gilberto Garcia 61st minute: Gilberto Garcia strode into the box with retreating defenders before chipping the ball over the top of the defense to an unmarked Jarvie who one-touched the ball past the goalkeeper.

TAC: (Eythor Bjørgolfsson) Antonio Herrera 66th minute: Bjørgolfsson headed the ball into the back of the net after beating the Monarchs center backs to the ball crossed in from Herrera.

TAC: (Braudílio Rodrigues) Paul Rothrock 87th minute: Rodrigues…