Real Monarchs continued their poor run in USL with another loss, this time to Seattle Sounders 2, losing 1-0 — but in dizzying fashion, it's yet another match in which the team was dominant for the majority of the match.
Monarchs, who have won only one match in USL, conceded in the second half when Sounders attacker Pablo Rossi capitalized on a poor defensive moment, scoring in a normally preventable situation.
Despite creating numerous chances in the run of play, arguably the best chance for Real Monarchs came when the Sounders goalkeeper quite surprisingly picked up a clear backpass. The situation hearkened back to the loss for S2 to Real Salt Lake in the US Open Cup, when the goalkeeper picked up a bizarrely swung back pass then, too. Two or three shots were sent in following the indirect free kick that ensued, but a strong goalkeeping performance (in that sense, at least) kept Monarchs at bay.
Throughout, Emery Welshman had perhaps the best of opportunities, but despite being in relatively good goalscoring form during the most recent international break with Guyana, the chips simply didn't quite fall particularly well for the striker.
Despite being talented and hard-working, Real Monarchs have won only a single match in USL — a 1-0 win in April against 2014 champions Sacramento Republic. With the team's focus more on development than on results, it's probably nothing worth panicking about, but it's also strange and a bit head-scratching at the same time.