Real Monarchs (14 wins, 7 draws, 10 defeats) currently sit in 4th position in the Western Conference table. They’re 26 points behind Rising (23 wins, 6 draws, 3 defeats) having played a game less, but clinched their playoff spot on Wednesday.
Despite Monarchs’ good position in the league, the team has struggled away from home, winning four and drawing four games. They’re also very likely to get into foul trouble.
In 14 of their road trips this season, Monarchs has started with a 4-2-3-1 formation. However, in their last two games (one home, one away), they have lined-up 5-3-2.
It normally takes time for Monarchs to get going on the goalscoring front. They’ve yet to find the net in the first 15 minutes of an away game.
They also take time to get into the game defensively. Monarchs seem to be most exposed at the back during the first half.
Salt Lake’s first team won’t be playing this weekend, but several players are away on international duty. Among those is Monarchs’ top scorer Douglas Martinez, who is away with Honduras.
This is the deciding match of the Four Corners Cup. If either side wins, they will take the inaugural title. If the match ends a draw, then New Mexico takes the table.
LAST MEETING
Rising’s last encounter with Real Monarchs was back in May. Phoenix came back from 2-0 down to win 4-2.
Marcelo Silva and Douglas Martinez gave the hosts the lead within half an hour at Zions Bank Stadium. Adam Jahn pulled one back in the 32nd minute, before a famously deflected Jon Bakero equaliser three minutes later.
Junior Flemmings gave Phoenix the lead on the hour mark, and Solomon Asante sealed the victory in the 81st.
Rising had the edge in possession (52.7%) but was still outshot 12-8 by the hosts. They weren’t long range efforts from Monarchs, either. All but two of those shots came from inside the penalty area.
Monarchs’ attack appeared to focus on crosses, putting in 30 over the course of the match compared to just nine from Phoenix.
LAST MATCH
Monarchs’ last match was a 2-0 victory over Orange County on Wednesday.
Andrew Putna played in goal for Monarchs against OC. It was his 11th game for the USL squad, having spent most of the season on the first team’s bench. Putna has a save success rate of 62.2% in USL this season, including four clean sheets.
Erik Holt played as one of Monarchs’ three defenders on Wednesday night. Like Putna, he’s had limited USL appearances thanks to first team commitments. He’s a solid tackler (82.4% success), and knows how to play the ball out of the back (85.5%). This is Holt’s first professional season after finishing up at UCLA. He counts as a homegrown player for Salt Lake, and came through their Arizona academy while attending Vista Grande High School in Casa Grande.
Kalen Ryden leads the team in clearances (82) and blocks (14), although that may have more to do with the fact that he’s played 25 games – more than any other defender. The 28-year-old from Norman, Oklahoma, has certainly been about a bit. He was drafted by Columbus in 2014, but after a loan spell with Austin Aztex, was released by the club without making a single appearance. He then played for OKC Energy and the Jacksonville Armada, before joining Monarchs for the 2018 season.
Rounding out the back line against OC was Konrad Plewa. He brings several years of USL experience to the side, making his Red Bulls II debut in 2015. Plewa was part of their squad that won the USL Cup in 2016, featuring in each playoff game despite suffering a stroke earlier in the season thanks to a blood deficiency. He also has the strongest passing accuracy out of the Monarchs defenders who played on Wednesday (88.3%).
Tate Schmitt played out on the left side of the pitch against OC. Although the official formation placed him as a wing-back, both Schmitt and Powder looked far more like out-and-out wingers for much of the match. Schmitt is a Phoenix native who came through the RSL Academy. While at the University of Louisville, he also played for FC Tucson for several seasons. In his first season as a professional in Utah, Schmitt has made a handful of appearances for the first team, and scored two goals in 12 games for Monarchs. He’s yet to record an assist.
Noah Powder was on the opposite flank on Wednesday, and is one of the most consistent faces in the Monarchs lineup with 28 appearances. He’s taken the fifth highest number of shots of any player on the team (17), but has scored only twice in that spell. Powder does, however, lead the team in interceptions (41). Despite being only 20, Powder has been playing in USL since 2016, and previously featured fir Red Bulls II and Orange County.
Luke Mulholland lined up in the middle of the park against OC. The 31-year-old hasn’t played consistently this year, starting the season with a back injury and only making his first league appearance off the bench in late September. However, he’s an experienced professional, and has been with Salt Lake since 2014. In the six games he’s featured in 2019 for Monarchs, he’s recorded one assist and created eight chances. Mulholland also found himself in the book twice.
Alongside him in midweek was Justin Portillo. Portillo made his first breakthrough into MLS this season, appearing for Salt Lake’s first team four times after impressing with Monarchs last year. However, most of his games have been at Zions Bank Stadium. Over 15 USL games, Portillo boasts a 90.4% passing accuracy. He’s also scored twice – one with each foot.
Jack Blake was the final member of the midfield trio against OC. Blake, born in Nottingham but a former Scottish youth international, joined Monarchs permanently this season after a loan spell in 2018. He’s Monarchs’ captain, and has played in 22 matches for them this seaason. 2019 has been a good year for Blake in front of goal – he sits in third place on the team’s goalscoring chart with eight goals.
First-teamer Kelyn Rowe dropped down to play for Monarchs in midweek. The forward has now made four USL appearances this season, although two of those were for Swope Park Rangers while under contract with Kansas City. He scored three times in those games, but has yet to find the net at any level since moving to Utah. Rowe first played in MLS with the New England Revolution in 2012, and made over 200 appearances for the club.
Kyle Coffee replaced Rowe in the 70th minute in midweek. Coffee was the 41st selection in this year’s draft by Salt Lake. He’s played in 19 games for Monarchs this season, with most of those coming off the bench. At 5-foot-1, he shouldn’t pose too much of an aerial threat, but one of his four goals this season was a header.
Maikel Chang is the only player to feature in every one of Monarchs’ games this season. Chang is one of the most dangerous players on Monarchs’ roster, and is second in both goals (12) and assists (5) – behind Martinez in both categories. He’s also a longtime USL player, playing for Charleston for five seasons before moving to Utah last year. Chang is deadliest with his left foot.
Check out Rising head coach Rick Schantz’s insights on Wednesday’s match and Rising’s preparation to face Monarchs.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Malik Badawi has the whisle for tonight’s clash. Badawi played as a defender for Fort Lewis College between 2014 and 2016, before hanging up his playing boots and acquiring his national badge. He’s taken charge of two Rising games this season, away to both San Antonio and Reno. He seems to be a good luck charm for Rising’s strikers. In the six games he’s officiated, Phoenix has scored less than three only once.
From the Ashes Prediction: Anything but a draw. Sorry, New Mexico.