Monarchs and Roughnecks play to a stagnant 0-0 draw

Despite holding 62.5% of the possession and outshooting the Roughnecks 12 to 8 the Monarchs appeared weary and slow from the start of the match and failed to create dangerous chances on offense.

All four shots on goal, two long range efforts by Sebastian Velasquez in the first half and efforts inside the box by Nick Besler and Daniel Haber in the second, went directly at Tulsa keeper, Fabian Cerda, for easy saves.

The Tulsa Roughnecks, for their part, appeared more than happy to settle for a scoreless draw and maintained a stout central defense that the Monarchs proved totally unable to break down. Tulsa had a couple of shots on goal from Juan Pablo Caffa in the first half and Joaquin Rivas in the second half, but seemed content to dominate the defense statistics with large advantages in tackles, ending with 17 and a 100% success rate, and clearances with 23 compared to the Monarchs 11.

Hopefully a good week of sleeping in the own beds and practice will invigorate the Monarchs for their next match on Saturday when they go back out on the road to Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Discipline

Yellow Cards

72’ – SLC – Chris Schuler

77’ – SLC – Sebastian Velasquez

89’ – SLC – Collin Fernandez

Real Monarchs SLC: (4-2-3-1) Sparrow; Schmidt, Schuler, Lachowecki (Curinga 90+3’); Adams (Hernandez 60’), Besler ; Haber, Velasquez, Minter; Hoffman (Desire 78’)

Tulsa Roughnecks FC: (4-2-3-1) Cerda; Kimura (Gee 51’), Bourgeois (Ugarte 82’), Jadama, Corrales; Hayes, Fernandez; Calistri, Caffa, Rivas (Thierjung 68’); Svantesson

Three Highlights for the Monarchs:

1. Conner Sparrow is picked up his fourth clean sheet of the season and continues to impress.
2. The Monarchs increased there league high point total to 48 and 8 clear of second place San Antonio FC. .
3. The Monarchs appeared the more active team of the match and had sizable leads in possession and shots on goal.

MEDIA

USLSOCCER.COM: Monarchs, Roughnecks End Deadlocked