Real Monarchs Earn First Point of 2022 Season

Herriman, Utah (Saturday, April 2, 2022) – In its 2022 Home Opener, Real Monarchs (0-1-1, 1 points) came from behind with a man down to earn a 2-2 draw with Whitecaps FC 2 (0-1-1, 2 points) for the team's first point of the season, but fell 3-1 in newly implemented penalty kick shootout, missing out on the extra point.

Team captain Pedro Fonseca scored the Club's first two goals in MLS NEXT Pro, putting away two penalty kicks for the brace and his first-ever professional goals.

Postgame Quotes from RM vs VAN

In the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro match at Zions Bank Stadium, the two sides struggled to find and maintain possession. However, late in the first half the tides began to turn in the Monarchs’ favor as forward Terron Williams got several chances on frame, but the Caps’ goalkeeper, Isaac Boehmer, was able to push both out and the first half ended with neither side able to find the back of the net.

Real Monarchs continued their offensive pressure to begin the second half and were rewarded with the opening goal in the 54th minute. Forward Yekeseon Subah was fouled hard by the goalkeeper inside the box, setting up a penalty kick for Fonseca. Fonseca buried the penalty into the bottom right corner for Real Monarchs’ first goal in MLS NEXT Pro.

Just minutes after the goal, defender Ethan Zamora went in for a hard tackle and was given his second yellow of the match, leaving the Monarchs shorthanded with only ten men. In the 81st minute, the Whitecaps leveled the scoring when their forward crossed a ball across the box into defender Gio Aguillar who was able to head it past Monarchs’ goalkeeper Gavin Beavers. Aguillar found the net again in the 89th minute with another head finding its way past Beavers.

As the game moved to stoppage time, the newest Monarchs signing Christian Nydegger was fouled in the box leading to another penalty kick for Fonseca. This time Fonseca slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, evening the score 2-2.

Due to MLS NEXT Pro rules, if the match is level after 90 minutes, the match moves to a penalty-kick shootout to award an extra point to the shoutout winner. Despite Beavers making a save during the shootout, the Monarchs were unable to convert enough penalties to get the second point, finishing the night with the 2-2 draw and their first point of the season.

UP NEXT: Real Monarchs finish off a two-game home stand to begin the season against Minnesota United FC 2 on Friday, April 8 at 7:00 p.m MT at Zions Bank Stadium.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

RM: Pedro Fonseca, 55th Minute: Forward Yekeson Subah was tackled inside the box by Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper, setting up a penalty kick for the Monarchs. Fonseca slotted the penalty shot in the bottom right corner for Real Monarchs’ first-ever goal in MLS NEXT Pro.

VAN: Giovanni Aguillar (Ali Ahmed) 81st minute: Whitecaps FC 2 leveled the scoring on a cross from midfielder Ali Ahmed that found defender Giovanni Aguilar who was able to head it past Monarchs goalkeeper Gavin Beavers.

VAN: Giovanni Aguillar (Jay Herdman) 89th minute: Aguillar found the net again with his head in the 89th minute this time on a cross by Jay Herdman, taking the lead 2-1.

RM: Pedro Fonseca 90+5th minute: On the Monarchs’ final opportunity of the match, midfielder Christian Nydegger was fouled inside the Whitecaps’ 18-yard box, setting up another penalty kick for Fonseca. Fonseca buried the penalty again, this time into the bottom-left corner to even the score at 2-2 and force the match to a penalty-kick shootout.

NOTES:

-Christian Nydegger made his first start with the Monarchs since officially signing with the Club on Friday, April 1.

-Real Salt Lake midfielder Nick Besler played for the Monarchs tonight on rehab assignment, recovering from nose surgery.

-Real Monarchs’ starting XI against WFC2 had an average age of 18 years old with Luis Rivera being the youngest at 14, and Nick Besler being the oldest at 28 years old.

- 13 of the 16 players available for the Monarchs during Saturday's match against Whitecaps FC 2 were current or former RSL Academy products.

Match: Real Monarchs vs Whitecaps FC 2

Date: April 2, 2022

Venue: Zions Bank Stadium

Weather: 62 and cloudy

Attendance: 1,882

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Real Monarchs 0 2 2

Whitecaps FC 2 0 2 2

Lineups:

Real Monarchs (4-3-3): Gavin Beavers, Ethan Zamora, Nick Besler (Alex Lopez), Luis Rivera, Marcus Vasquez, Julio Benitez (Izzy Amparo), Christian Nydegger, Pedro Fonseca, Terron Williams, Jude Wellings (Leo Torres), Yekeson Subah

Subs not used: Javier Zaragoza, Gershon Henry,

Whitecaps FC 2 (3-5-2): Isaac Boehmer, Simone Masi, Matteo Campagna, Christian Campagna, Eric White(Filip Rakic) , Vasco Fry, Pipe (Giovanni Aguilar), Jay Herdman, Ali Ahmed, Simon Becher, Joseph Hanson (Robert Antoniuk)

Subs not used: Ben Alexander, Pipe, Thierno Bah, Finn Linder, Joshua Ndakala, Luis Felipe Salvador

Stats Summary: VAN / RM

Shots: 10 / 10

Shots on Goal: 3 / 5

Saves: 3 / 1

Corner Kicks: 1 / 3

Fouls: 19 / 15

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RM: Ethan Zamora (caution) 25’

VAN: Isaac Boehmer (caution) 53’

RM: Yekeson Subah (caution) 54’

VAN: Matteo Campagna (caution) 55’

RM: Ethan Zamora (ejection) 57’

RM: Marcus Vasquez (caution) 70’

RM: Christian Nydegger (caution) 76’

VAN: Giovanni Aguillar (caution) 84’

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Omeed Azadpour

Assistant Referees: Robbie Kosinski / Joshua Mills

4th Official: Jordan Downs