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Monarchs Prevail, United Continues to Stumble

By CHARLIE CORR - charlie.corr@uslsoccer.com, 08/28/16, 12:30AM EDT

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Orellana’s first-half score holds up for road win against Arizona


Photo courtesy of Arizona United SC

PEORIA, Ariz. – Maikon Orellana scored midway through the first half and Real Monarchs SLC earned a 1-0 road victory against Arizona United SC on Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex. Orellana’s score off of an Andrew Brody assist put the Monarchs up in the 24th minute. Real is now unbeaten in four straight (3-0-1) with a season-high three consecutive victories. The Monarchs improve to 9-11-5 (32 points) overall and 5-6-2 on the road. Arizona falls to 8-11-6 (30 points) overall and 4-4-4 at home. United has now lost three straight after winning its first three matches in August. United won the previous two meetings against the Monarchs, with a 1-0 victory on April 15 and a 3-0 win on July 22 at Real’s Clyde Field. They will meet a fourth and final time this regular season on Sept. 17 at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Scoring:
24’ – SLC – Maikon Orellana (Andrew Brody)

Three Things That Mattered:

  • 1. The Monarchs had a good buildup in their opening goal in the 24th minute, basically playing the ball straight up the middle of the pitch starting from goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez in the back. Andrew Brody marched ahead and provided a through ball in between two Arizona defenders to lead Maikon Orellana. United goalkeeper Carl Woszczynski left his line to try and limit Orellana’s options, but he slotted his shot low past the veteran goalkeeper to gain the 1-0 lead. Orellana netted his fifth goal of the season, and it was the difference to help the Monarchs move ahead of United in the Western Conference standings.

  • 2. Arizona was already having difficult trying to produce something in the attack and the club made matters worse when midfielder Christian Silva was sent off in the 52nd minute, forcing United to play the remainder of the match with 10 men. Silva was shown a red card for a two-footed tackle against the Monarchs’ Alec Sundly. Sundly was trying to play a back-heel pass when Silva charged in with both feet off the ground.

  • 3. One player for the Monarchs that certainly was looking to change his recent trend is goal-scoring leader Ricardo Velazco who still sits at seven tallies this year. He is in the midst of his longest goal-scoring drought of the season at six games now. Velazco’s frustration was evident in the 75th minute when he cut to his right foot and drove a bending ball past a couple of United defenders but just wide right of the frame. He illustrated some disgust after that sequence as a tally at that stage of the match would have solidified a Monarchs win with 15 minutes remaining.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Maikon Orellana, Real Monarchs SLC –
Orellana notched the winning goal for the Monarchs in the first half to move into the driver’s seat.

Upcoming Games:
Arizona United SC
vs. LA Galaxy II – Aug. 31, 10:30 p.m. ET, Peoria Sports Complex
Real Monarchs SLC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC – Sept. 3, 9 p.m. ET, Rio Tinto Stadium