The Real Monarchs enjoyed their best week of their young existence, posting two wins to double their season total and setting a new club attendance record.
The Real Salt Lake-operated Monarchs started things off with a 2-1 win Thursday over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS) on the strength of two goals from Emery Welshman (pictured above). They then beat the Seattle Sounders 2 on Friday night in front of a record crowd of 13,979 at Rio Tinto Stadium (RECAP | HIGHLIGHTS).
Ricardo Velazco cleaned up the rebound from a Welshman shot for the Monarchs’ opening goal, and Eti Tavares doubled their lead just before the halftime break. Pablo Rossi scored S2’s lone goal on a 72nd-minute strike.
"I think you’d have to be an Ebenezer Scrooge with no heart not to get the tingles when you’re out there, and it was amazing," Real Salt Lake vice president of soccer Rob Zarkos said on USLSoccer.com of the game’s atmosphere. "It was the best atmosphere, the players loved it.”
The Monarchs were eliminated from playoff contention before the week started, however, and remain at the bottom of the Western Conference.
It was also a good week for the New York Red Bulls II, who recorded a 2-0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday (RECAP) to move into a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference. Manolo Sanchez and Marius Obekop, on loan from the Red Bulls’ first team, were the goal-scorers.
Of the other MLS-operated squads in action last week, the LA Galaxy II lost 2-1 to Arizona United, the Portland Timbers 2 fell 3-1 to the Orange County Blues, FC Montreal were routed 6-0 by the Harrisburg City Islanders and Toronto FC II tied the Charlotte Independence 2-2.
This week's games:
Wednesday, September 2
Louisville City vs. Harrisburg City Islanders, 7:30 pm
Real Monarchs vs. OKC Energy, 9 pm
Thursday, September 3
Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Charlotte Independence, 7 pm
Saturday, September 5
Toronto FC II vs. FC Montreal, 3 pm
Portland Timbers 2 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 6 pm
Charlotte Independence vs. Wilmington Hammerheads, 7 pm
Richmond Kickers vs. Rochester Rhinos, 7 pm
Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Charleston Battery, 7 pm
Austin Aztex vs. Seattle Sounders 2, 8:30 pm
New York Red Bulls II vs. Louisville City, 8:30 pm
Orange County Blues vs. LA Galaxy II, 10 pm
Arizona United vs. Real Monarchs, 10:30 pm
Sunday, September 6
Vancouver Whitecaps 2 vs. Sacramento Republic, 6 pm
Harrisburg City Islanders vs. Saint Louis FC, 6:30 pm
Tulsa Roughnecks vs. OKC Energy, 8:30 pm
