PORTLAND, Ore. – Real Monarchs SLC, playing its first regular-season match under Head Coach Mike Petke, came out on the winning end, going on the road against the Portland Timbers 2 for a 2-1 victory on Saturday at Providence Park. James Moberg scored off a Charlie Adams corner kick in the 11th minute, and Nick Besler also volleyed home a goal off of an Adams corner in the 48th minute as the former Portland tie-ins stepped up for the Monarchs. T2’s Augustine Williams took advantage of a defensive blunder by Real, and that proved to be the only offense the host side could find on the score sheet.

Scoring:
11’ – SLC – James Moberg (Charlie Adams)
48’ – SLC – Nick Besler (Charlie Adams)
65’ – POR – Augustine Williams

Three Things That Mattered:

• 1. The Monarchs’ James Moberg has a bit of a history in Portland, previously playing for the Premier Development League’s Portland Timbers U23s during the 2015 season. Moberg displayed his assertiveness early against T2. In the 11rth minute, Charlie Adams’ left-footed kick from the left corner flag had some loft to it. Both teams had ample time to position themselves and it wound up being Moberg who read the trajectory better than the Portland defense as he headed the ball past T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh.

• 2. A stronger Portland tie-in with the Monarchs is midfielder Nick Besler, a member of the Timbers organization for the previous two years and loaned to T2 during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Adams was once again the setup man, this time from the right side. The ball bounced once on the ground and Besler volleyed into the back of the net for a two-goal cushion as Real fully capitalized on the set-piece chances.

• 3. T2 was able to stay in the game, with some incredible fortune from the Monarchs’ defense in the 65rth minute. Monarchs goalkeeper Andrew Putna distributed the ball in the direction of Emilio Orozco and it deflected off the back of his leg. Augustine Williams happily accepted the gift, slotted home for the goal and rushed into the net to grab the ball quickly with the hope of an equalizer that never panned out.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match:
Nick Besler, Real Monarchs SLC – Besler tallied what proved to be the game-winner against his former T2 side.

Upcoming Games:
Portland Timbers 2 at Swope Park Rangers – March 29, 8:30 p.m. ET, Children’s Mercy Victory Field
Real Monarchs SLC vs. Phoenix Rising FC – April 1, 6 p.m. ET, Rio Tinto Stadium