SANDY, Utah – Real Monarchs SLC benefited from an 87th-minute own goal and edged the Portland Timbers 2 by a 2-1 margin on Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The go-ahead score deflected off of Villyan Bijev’s shoulder on a Monarchs corner kick. Earlier in the match, Maikon Orellana gave the Monarchs a 13th-minute lead to take advantage of a defensive miscue by Portland. T2 responded with Blake Bodily’s 70th-minute score. With the win, the Monarchs improved to 8-11-5 (29 points) overall – still out of the postseason cutoff at the moment, but inching closer. They are in ninth place at the moment, matching the Swope Park Rangers’ point total and one point behind the eighth-place slot currently held by Arizona United SC (8-8-6, 30 points). Portland, meanwhile, saw its mini three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) end as T2 falls to 7-12-4 (25 points) overall and 2-7-1 on the road. The sides split the season series as Portland defeated the Monarchs 3-1 on May 7 at Providence Park.

Scoring:
13’ – SLC – Maikon Orellana
70’ – POR – Blake Bodily (Villyan Bijev)
87’ – SLC – Villyan Bijev (own goal)

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. Both teams headed into the match in need of a full three points as time is ticking away to make a run up the Western Conference standings. The Monarchs found a glimmer of hope when they notched a go-ahead goal in the 87th minute. Monarchs captain Ricardo Velazco drove in a corner kick from the left side and the ball ricocheted off of Portland’s Villyan Bijev, deflected off of his shoulder and into the net for an own goal.

• 2. The Monarchs and Timbers 2 each had a gift of an opportunity in the opening half. Real took advantage of the moment while T2 choked at the chance. The host side got on the score sheet in the 13th minute after Portland’s Michael Gallagher coughed up the ball in the defensive third. Maikon Orellana pounced on the giveaway and fired to the right of the frame, clipping the inside of the right post for a 1-0 Monarchs lead. Then Portland had a perfect chance to tie things up in the 21st minute as Bijev found himself one-on-one against Monarchs goalkeeper Jeff Attinella while the Real back line was pleading for an offside call. Bijev remained onside, but he pushed his shot wide right of the frame.

• 3. The Timbers 2 had some energetic spells in the second half and found the equalizer in the 70th minute. Bijev has been one of the league’s top setup men all season, and he did the dirty work again at midfield to lead a darting Blake Bodily down the left side. Bodily sped forward and shot over Attinella’s right shoulder to tie the score at 1-1. For Bodily, it was his third tally of the season and for Bijev it was his team-leading sixth assist.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Jeff Attinella, Real Monarchs SLC - Attinella came through with several clutch stops against Portland and posted five saves overall.

Upcoming Games:
Real Monarchs SLC at Arizona United SC – Aug. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET, Peoria Sports Complex
Portland Timbers 2 at Sacramento Republic FC – Aug. 20, 11 p.m. ET, Bonney Field