Monarchs and Rangers tie 2-2 in a game of two halves

The Monarchs came out with Matt Van Oekel, down from RSL for a rehab start, in goal and Daniel Haber starting on the left wing in place of the suspended Chase Minter. Once again the change in starters paid a major dividend when Haber put a wonderful free kick up and over the wall in the 8’ to gave the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead.

With an early lead the Monarchs continued to hold a high line compressing the midfield and keeping the possession conscious Rangers out of synch. While both sides managed to create chances it was the Monarchs who converted in the 26’ when a beautiful cross from Andrew Brody following a poor clearance of a Monarchs’ corner kick found Kyle Curinga still in the box. He promptly headed it home and made the score 2-0 from an earlier corner kick

Despite several chances for the Rangers, the half ended 2-0 with the Monarachs converting both of the shots on goal and out possessing the Rangers.

Swope Park made two changes at half bringing in speedy forwards Kharlton Belmar and Nansel Selbol who made an immediate impact and began to punish the high line of the Monarchs with balls into the corner and over the top.

The Rangers had a breakaway on goal off a poor clearance by Taylor Peay and call for handling in the box by Kyle Curinga but it was Nansel Selbol who finally broke through in the 60’ on a shot from high outside the box that jumped over Van Oekel’s hands and closed the score to 2-1.

Energized the Rangers continued to press but the Monarchs manage to claw the ball off the line several times before Kharlton Belmar leveled the score in the 80’ on a nice tap in of a ball across the face of goal ending a long period of excellent ball movement.

Substitue Skyler Milne had a nice effort late in the game of a Liam Doyle mistake, but neither side managed to find the winner and walked off the field splitting the points..

Goals

8’ – SLC – Daniel Haber

26’ – SLC – Kyle Curinga (Andrew Brody)

60’ – SPR – Nansel Selbol (Kharlton Belmar)

82 – SPR – Kharlton Belmar (Tyler Pasher)

Discipline

Yellow Cards

21’ – SPR – Lebo Moloto

21’ – SLC – James Moberg

Real Monarchs SLC: (4-2-3-1) Van Oekel; Curinga, Moberg, Peay, Lachowecki; Besler, Adams (Hernandez 63’); Brody , Velasquez , Haber (Milne 83’); Hoffman (Cruz 72’)

Swope Park Rangers: (4-3-3) Zendejas; Storm, Ballo, Doyle, Pasher; Moloto, Kuzain, Duke; Hernandez (Selbol 45’), Mirosavic (Belmar 45’), Gonzalez (Iwasa 84’)

Three Highlights for the Monarchs:

1. Danny Cruz came on in the second half and made a bright debut for the Monarchs.
2. The Monarchs finishing was spot on converting both of their only two shots on goal in .the first half .
3. The Monarchs held on for a draw and maintain their 11 point lead over the Rangers.

MEDIA

USLSOCCER.COM: Rangers Rally, End Even with Monarchs