The Swope Park Rangers (4-2-3, 15 points) lost to Real Monarchs (6-1-1, 19 points) 4-1 at Zions Bank Stadium on Wednesday night. Kharlton Belmar had the only goal for SPR, logging his league-leading eighth goal of the season.
The second minute brought the first chance of the match for SPR when Sporting KC loanee Gianluca Busio was fouled and awarded a free kick. His shot was off target and sailed high of the crossbar.
Hadji Barry gave a great ball to Belmar, who took a right-footed shot from the right side and notched the first goal of the evening in the eighth minute to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.
In the 111th minute, Real Monarchs forward Josh Heard had a close shot that missed by inches to the left of the post. Kalen Ryden scored the equalizer in the 244th minute off a deflected header on a shot initially taken by Sebastian Velasquez.
Sporting KC loanee Amer Didic was able to make a great defensive play to stop another Monarchs opportunity in the 34th minute when he deflected a ball that would have been on target.
In the 44th minute, Ryden found the net again as the Monarchs took a 2-1 lead over the Rangers.
Busio had a beautiful curling shot from a Wan Kuzain pass, but it skimmed the top right corner without landing in the net in the 54th minute. In the 55th minute, Juan Ignacio Mare notched a goal and extended the Real Monarchs lead to 3-1.
In the 58th minute, Belmar tried for a second goal of the night to close the gap, but his shot was saved by Real Monarchs goaltender Connor Sparrow.
There was miscommunication in the 60th minute resulting in an own goal by captain Brad Evans when he headed a ball to Sporting KC loanee Adrian Zendejas, but the ball sailed over Zendejas and found the net.
The Rangers had a few more chances for the remainder of the match, but none were capitalized on. The game was sealed at 4-1.
SPR finishes off their three-game road stand at Rio Grande Valley FC (1-4-3, 6 points) on Saturday, May 19th at 7:30 p.m. CT in Edinburg, Texas. The Rangers will return home to face Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, May 26 at 4 p.m. CT at Children’s Mercy Park.
Notable Moments
- Sporting KC Academy product Wilson Harris made his first professional start in today’s match and played the full 90 minutes. He also received his first call up to the US Under-20 National Team today.
- Sporting KC loanee and USL leading goal scorer Kharlton Belmar notched his eighth goal of the season and the 23rd goal of his career in a SPR jersey.
Swope Park Rangers vs Real Monarchs
May 9, 2018 – Zions Bank Stadium
Swope Park Rangers 1, Real Monarchs 4
Scoring Summary:
SPR – Kharlton Belmar 8 (Hadji Barry 4) – 8’
SLC – Kalen Ryden 3 (Sebastian Velasquez 2) – 24’
SLC – Kalen Ryden 4 (Justin Portillo 3) – 44’
SLC – Juan Ignacio Mare 2 (Aaron Herrera 1) – 55’
SLC – Brad Evans (own goal) – 60’
Misconduct Summary:
SLC – Juan Ignacio Mare (Yellow Card) – 15’
Swope Park Rangers:
Adrian Zendejas; Brad Evans ©, Parker Maher, Amer Didic, Colton Storm (Bryam Rebellon 88’); Gianluca Busio (Chase Minter 62’), Rodrigo Saravia, Wan Kuzain; Hadji Barry (Tyler Blackwood 70'), Wilson Harris, Kharlton Belmar.
