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Monarchs, Unbeaten WFC2 Split Points

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 05/29/16, 7:00PM EDT

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Vancouver grabs two-goal lead, SLC’s Velazco garners brace to rally for road point


Photo courtesy of Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2

VANCOUVER – Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 maintained its unbeaten start to the season, though the host side certainly missed a valuable opportunity to gain the full three points as Real Monarchs SLC rallied for a 2-2 draw on Saturday at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Ben McKendry and Vancouver captain Kyle Greig each provided first-half goals to give WFC2 a two-goal edge. Then it was Monarchs goal-scoring leader and captain Ricardo Velazco who tallied two times to give his side a road point. Vancouver moved to 6-0-4 (22 points) and 2-0-2 at home, while the Monarchs moved to 3-4-4 (13 points) and 1-2-2 on the road.

Scoring:
24’ – VAN – Ben McKendry (Brett Levis)
25’ – VAN – Kyle Greig (Sam Adekugbe)
45’+ – SLC – Ricardo Velazco (Kevaughn Frater)
53’ – SLC – Ricardo Velazco (Andrew Brody)

Three Things That Mattered:

  • 1. Vancouver’s season is only a third complete, and captain Kyle Greig is already enjoying a career year. Greig has upped his season tally to nine goals, which ranks second in the USL behind only the LA Galaxy II’s Jack McBean (11). That also matches his career high in goals as he posted nine scores during the 2014 season with OKC Energy FC. He had seven last year with OKC. On Sunday, Greig was on the receiving end of a beautiful cross from Sam Adekugbe from the left side. Adekugbe had an effective opening half as WFC2 went through him on a number of occasions to break down the right side of the Monarchs’ defense. Greig was the recipient in the 25th minute as Vancouver’s early spell created a two-goal cushion as he followed up Ben McKendry’s strike only one minute earlier.

  • 2. If the Monarchs were looking for someone to rise in the scoring column, captain Ricardo Velazco has affirmed that he is the main culprit. Velazco garnered a brace and could have conjured up more, with a knack for finding the edges of the frame most times he is gearing up to shoot. His first-half stoppage-time tally was a vital moment, finding the inside of the left post to cut Vancouver’s lead to one in heading into halftime. Then in the 53rd minute, Velazco had the highlight of the match with a powerful right-footed shot to the far upper right corner that Paolo Tornaghi had no chance of stopping to tie the score at 2-2. Velazco now has five goals this season to lead the Monarchs.

  • 3. The final 20 minutes included a number of chances for either side to grab the win. Brett Levis and Greig just missed the frame in the 70th and 72nd minutes, respectively. In the 79th minute, Velazco had a chance for a hat trick and Tornaghi came up with a clutch foot save to keep the score level.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Ricardo Velazco, Real Monarchs –
Velazco for the most part was a one-man show for the Monarchs, capitalizing on two of his chances to rally for a road point.

Upcoming Games:
June 4: Real Monarchs SLC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2; 10 p.m. ET, UBC Thunderbird Stadium