The Swope Park Rangers remain on the road this weekend when the side travels to take on Real Monarchs SLC – Real Salt Lake’s USL affiliate – at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. CT – two-and-a-half hours before Sporting Kansas City faces Real Salt Lake at Children’s Mercy Park. The match will also be streamed live on SportingKC.com and can be followed online via the USLsoccer.com MatchCenter.
The Rangers (3-1-0, 9 pts.) enter the contest on the back of their first defeat of the season, and first regular-season loss since Sept. 3, 2016. In last Sunday’s showdown with Phoenix Rising FC at the Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, SPR found themselves 4-0 down in the 47th minute only to rally and almost pull off a remarkable comeback. Kevin Oliveira scored twice in the final 11 minutes before Christian Duke added a third in stoppage time to make the final score 4-3.
Oliveira’s two goals pushes him into a tie for the team lead, with 2015 USL Rookie of the Year Kharlton Belmar also tallying twice in the young season. Prior to last weekend’s loss, the Rangers had won each of their opening three games of the season at home against OKC Energy FC, Portland Timbers 2 and Sacramento Republic FC. SPR fell just short of history as their seven-game regular-season winning streak was halted one game short of the all-time USL record.
The Monarchs are off to a flying start, going 4-1-0 (12 pts.) in their opening five matches of the season. Their only defeat to date came on the road in a 2-1 loss to Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on April 15. The Monarchs are led by forward Chandler Hoffman’s three goals, while Nick Besler – Sporting KC captain Matt Besler’s younger brother – Jose Hernandez and Sebastian Velasquez have each scored twice this year.
In their only prior meeting, the Monarchs claimed a 1-0 victory over the Rangers at Rio Tinto Stadium on Aug. 13, 2016. An early goal from Emilio Orozco turned out to be the difference as the Rangers pelted the Monarchs’ goal for the remainder of the game – taking 17 shots with nine on target – but couldn’t break through. A 16-year-old Jaylin Lindsey was making his first professional start for the Rangers in that game, playing 67 minutes in central defense. Lindsey is currently with the U.S. Under-17 National Team at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Panama.
The Monarchs will benefit from the return of playmaker Charlie Adams who served a one-game suspension in last week’s 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC 2 after being shown a red card in the game against Colorado Springs. Adams is third in the USL with 16 chances created.
Game 5
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017
Kickoff: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Rio Tinto Stadium (Sandy, Utah)
Swope Park Rangers: 3-1-0 (9 pts.), 3rd in Western Conference.
Real Monarchs SLC: 4-1-0 (12 pts.), 2nd in Western Conference.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Live Stream: The game will be broadcast on SportingKC.com and YouTube.com/USL
SOCIAL TAGS
Game-specific hashtag: #SLCvSPR
Swope Park Rangers
Twitter: @SwopeRangers
Instagram: @SwopeParkRangers
Real Monarchs SLC
Twitter: @RealMonarchs
Instagram: @RealMonarchs
SPR GAME NOTES
