CITY2 scored a season-high four goals against the Monarchs
After going scoreless against Austin FC II in their last match, St Louis CITY2 responded with an offensive show, pouring in four goals against Real Monarchs to pick up a commanding road victory.
CITY2 drew first blood with a goal shortly after the first whistle, as midfielder AJ Palazzolo drilled a low shot from distance in the opening minute. After hounding Real Monarchs players to keep play largely concentrated in the home side’s half, CITY2 broke through again after midfielder Sergio Rivas dispossessed an unsuspecting Monarchs defender of the ball in the home side’s box and fired the shot home in the 21st minute.
Real Monarchs threatened in the 33rd minute when an attacker worked behind the away side’s backline to set up a one-on-one shot opportunity against goalkeeper Michael Creek. Creek came off his line and blocked the low shot before eventually clearing it from the box. Later in the half, forward Dida Armstrong found midfielder Wan Kuzain who flicked the ball to the far post to extend CITY2’s lead to three. In first-half stoppage time, Real Monarchs got on the scoresheet after converting a penalty kick that resulted from a foul by defender Fritz Volmar.
For the second time on the night, CITY2 got on the board in the opening minute of a half, with Armstrong dribbling past the Monarchs defenders and nailing a shot to the far post in the 46th minute. The home side put a ball on frame after redirecting a corner kick in the 53rd minute, but Creek moved to his left to make the save and maintain the three-goal advantage.
In the 73rd minute, Real Monarchs tested Creek once again, but he swallowed up the shot to bring his total saves on the night to two (2). Looking to push the lead to four, midfielder John Klein fired a close-range shot on target in the 85th minute, but the Real Monarchs goalkeeper stood his ground and knocked the strike out of the box.
POSTGAME NOTES
- CITY2 has now scored first in seven matches this season
- Dida Armstrong became the third player to record a goal and an assist in the same game for CITY2 this season (joining John Klein and Aziel Jackson)
- Eleven (11) different players have now scored for CITY2 this season
- With the win, CITY2 moves to 3-3-2 (13 points) on the road this season
UP NEXT
CITY2 hosts Minnesota United FC 2 on Thursday, June 22.
STARTING LINEUP
Michael Creek, Nolan McGuire, Michael Wentzel ©, Fritz Volmar (Josh Maher 77’), Ezra Armstrong, Sergio Rivas, AJ Palazzolo (Larsen Hackworth 68’), Dida Armstrong, Faysal Bettache (John Klein 68’), Wan Kuzain (Owen O’Malley 68’), Ryley Gibbs (Stanislav Koval 76’)
SUBSTITUTES NOT USED:
Eric Walker
