Real Monarchs (16 wins, 8 draws, 10 losses) finished in 4th place in the Western Conference table with 56 points. That was 22 points behind Rising (24 wins, 6 draws, 4 losses), who finished top with 78.
Monarchs have been a mixed bag away from home in 2019, losing just under half of their regular season games. However, the last two road matches were wins, including last month’s game at Casino Arizona Field.
Monarchs are never the quickest off the block. This season, they’ve yet to score within the opening 15 minutes of a road game.
At the other end of the field, Monarchs are actually more susceptible to conceding in the first 45 minutes than after the break.
REGULAR SEASON MEETING 1: Monarchs 2-4 Phoenix
The first meeting of the season between Rising and Monarchs came in May at Zions Bank Stadium.
The hosts quickly took a 2-0 lead within the opening half hour, including a goal from top scorer Douglas Martínez.
However, goals from Adam Jahn and Jon Bakero (the latter an awkward deflection from a goalkeeper clearance) had levelled the scores by the break.
Monarchs lacked the edge in possession, and in the air, but they did out-shoot Phoenix (12-8).
However, they got less of their shots on target (just five to Phoenix’s six), and Junior Flemmings and Solomon Asante gave Rising a big road victory.
REGULAR SEASON MEETING 2: Phoenix 1-2 Monarchs
In the reverse fixture, Rising put in a dominant performance at home with the majority of possession, complete supremacy in the air, and more than half of the game’s shots. However, Monarchs managed more shots on target to Rising (7-6).
When Monarchs were awarded a contentious penalty midway through the second half substitute Maikel Chang tucked it away to give the visitors the lead.
Another substitute – Rising’s Ben Spencer – followed Chang onto the scoresheet in the 82nd minute, bringing the two sides level.
A pair of red cards was then handed out six minutes later after a clash in the Rising penalty area. Konrad Plewa appeared to elbow Corey Whelan, who the referee then judged to have retaliated with a headbutt. Whelan’s suspension was later overturned by the league on appeal.
Deep into stoppage time, a rare error from Zac Lubin allowed Kyle Coffee to score the winning goal and complete the first away victory of the 2019 USL season at Casino Arizona Field.
CONFERENCE QUARTER FINAL
Monarchs’ second highest home crowd of 2019 last Saturday was treated to a goal bonanza in the Conference quarter final, as the hosts easily swept aside Orange County 6-2.
Officially adopting a 3-4-1-2 formation, Monarchs actually played with two wing-backs and a trio in midfield.
Maikel Change got Monarchs off to a fine start with a 13th minute lead – a left-footed shot from the center of the box. Martínez doubled the lead for the hosts 15 minutes later; but Orange County managed to pull one back before the break through Michael Orozco.
The game was turned on its head when County’s midfielder, Harry Forrester, was dismissed for a second bookable offense in the 49th minute. Monarchs then used their one-man advantage to good effect, adding four extra goals through Blake (2), Schmitt, and Holt before Michael Seaton bagged an injury-time consolation for the Californians.
Monarchs won the possession battle 55.3%-44.7%, and out-shot OC 16-11. Nine of Monarchs’ shots were on target – that’s three times more shots on goal than Rising managed against Austin Bold last week (excluding penalties). Monarchs also recorded an impressive 83.4% passing accuracy, including 76% in their opponents’ half, and successfully completed all nine attempted tackles. Suffice to say, they will be a formidable opponent for Rising tonight.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
The goalkeeper – although, who knows who it’ll be. Both David Ochoa and Andrew Putna have featured prominently in the Real Monarchs’ goal this season, with the former appearing four times more (17 to 13). They’ve both kept four clean sheets each to date, but Ochoa has the edge in save success rate (69.6% to Putna’s 62.3%). Ochoa came in third spot this season in USL’s 20 under 20 rankings as SLC’s sole representative. He also found himself in the net for Monarchs’ last two matches.
Noah Powder provides danger from the backline. He can play either as a full-back, when Monarchs employs a more flat back four, or as a wing-back when the team plays with three central defenders. He’s featured in 31 of Monarchs’ games this year, making him one of the most regular faces in their starting XI. Powder’s not afraid of going forward, and has taken 19 shots this year. Approximately a quarter of his shots are on target, but only two have succeeded in beating the opposition keeper. Powder also creates a lot of chances (30 – 3rd overall on the team), but is yet to record an assist. A youth international with Trinidad and Tobago, he has rejected calls to switch allegiance to the U.S., his country of birth.
Jack Blake is a consistent danger from midfield. Another prominent chance creator (44; 2nd on team), he is also the third highest goalscorer with ten. Two of those goals came against Orange County in last weekend’s playoff quarter final. Blake is in his second season with Monarchs, and is likely to wear the armband for the visitors tonight. A former Scottish youth international, Blake previously featured in the youth setup at Nottingham Forest.
Maikel Chang is one of Monarchs’ biggest attacking threats. He didn’t start against Rising three weeks ago, but scored the penalty that broke the deadlock in the second half. Chang leads Monarchs in assists (8) and chances created (75), and is second on the team for goals (14). He’s also the only player to feature in each of Monarchs’ matches this season – even if he came off the bench for three of them. Originally from Cuba, Chang defected after traveling with Cuba to a World Cup Qualifying match in Toronto. He then played for five years in Charleston, before joining Salt Lake’s second team ahead of the 2018 season.
Douglas Martínez was away on international duty three weeks ago, but has returned to the starting line-up and is hungry for a USL title. Martínez earned his first full cap for Honduras in October, and scored on his debut against Trinidad & Tobago. Impressing in his first season with Monarchs – he currently leads the club in goals (17) – Martínez also made his MLS for SLC debut in late September. Possessing a lethal right foot, he has scored all but one of his goals with it this season. Expect him to provide a serious challenge for Rising’s defense tonight.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Jon Freemon will have the whistle for tonight’s match. Two weeks ago, he officiated the inaugural League One playoff final between North Texas and Greenville Triumph. Texas is also where he last took charge of Rising. Freemon was the referee in a heated match between Phoenix and Austin Bold back in April, when he showed five yellow cards (four to Bold and one to Rising). He has also served as a VAR in MLS.
From The Ashes Prediction: 2-2 draw after 90, but this one will be settled in extra time.
For more insights, listen to Episode 2 of The O and Joe Show here.