Energy FC Falls To Real Monarchs

OKC Energy FC lost for the first time in ten games, 2-0 at the hands of Real Monarchs SLC Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The Monarchs took a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute of play when Emery Welshman grabbed a loose ball near the left baseline and maneuvered around two OKC defenders before rolling a shot through the legs of Energy FC keeper Even Newton. Welshman’s goal would go on to be the winning goal for the Monarchs, who handed OKC its first shutout loss in 11 matches dating back to a 1-0 loss to Orange County on July 1.

Energy FC had a chance to tie the match early in the second half, when captain Michael Thomas was hauled down from behind in the Monarchs box, resulting in a penalty kick for Energy FC. On the ensuing kick, OKC’s Danni König lifted a shot over the crossbar, allowing the Monarchs to hold the 1-0 lead.

König, who is in pursuit of the USL record for goals scored in a season, was passed in the league’s goal race by Louisville’s Matt Fondy minutes before the start of Energy FC’s match. Fondy set a new record of 21 goals in a season with a three-goal performance earlier in the evening against the Harrisburg City Islanders. After being the first to tie the former mark of 20 on August 29, König now trails Fondy by a single goal for the league lead.

In the 69th minute of the match, a penalty kick provided insurance for the Monarchs, when OKC’s Cyprian Hedrick was whistled for a takedown on Welshman and Monarchs captain Lucas Baldin lined a shot past a diving Newton on free chance.

With the loss, Energy FC remains in first place of the USL’s Western Conference, holding at 43 standings points, one point ahead of second-place LA Galaxy II. Real Monarchs SLC improved to 5-13-8 but remains in last place of the Western Conference.

Energy FC’s next match is Sunday, Sept. 6, when the club heads to Tulsa for a 7:30 p.m. showdown against in-state rival Tulsa Roughnecks FC.