SANDY, Utah – Real Monarchs SLC tied the USL regular-season record with an eighth consecutive victory as it took a 2-0 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Monarchs’ eight consecutive win moved the side level with Orlando City SC, which recorded eight consecutive wins in the 2014 season prior to joining Major League Soccer. The Monarchs (11-1-0, 33pts) came out strongly, and Chandler Hoffman forced a save in just the second minute from T2 goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh. Real continued to look more dangerous going forward, and McIntosh had to make a big save in the 31st minute as Charlie Adams curled a free kick toward the left corner of the net. Ten minutes later the Monarchs took the lead, though, as Sebastian Velazquez beat his man inside the penalty area and cut back for Andrew Brody at the top of the six-yard area to finish. The Monarchs doubled their lead midway through the second half as Hoffman finished off a move begun by Brody and Velasquez that set up his eighth goal of the season. Portland’s Villyan Bijev went close a minute later to getting T2 (1-11-1, 4pts) back into the game, but the Monarchs’ counterattack looked more likely to add to the hosts’ lead late on as it pulled level with Orlando City SC’s historic run in the 2014 season, and into sole possession of first place in the West.

Scoring:

41’ – SLC – Andrew Brody (Sebastian Velasquez)

67’ – SLC – Chandler Hoffman (Sebastian Velasquez)

Three Things That Matter:

1. The Monarchs equaled the 2014 Orlando City SC squad's record with their eighth consecutive victory after another strong attacking performance that has become Real’s hallmark this season as it was for the Lions three seasons ago. The Monarchs’ ability to put teams under pressure from the opening whistle was again in evidence as T2 had some possession, but were unable to find any big threats in the first half. Real will now get the chance to claim the league record in what is setting up as a must-see when Reno 1868 FC visits for a Monday night clash on June 19.

2. There have been a number of key figures for the Monarchs in their rise to the top of the Western Confefence, but on Saturday night it was the attacking triangle of Andrew Brody, Chandler Hoffman and Sebastian Velasquez that provided the keys to victory. Brody notched his first goal of the season, and then played the lead role in setting up Hoffman’s eighth goal of the season, with Velasquez picking up the assist on both. With the number of threats the Monarchs possess, it’s a question of picking your poison as to who you try to eliminate, and even then it still might not work.

3. Portland’s struggles continued as the side was unable to create many substantive threats, and finished the game with no shots on goal for the contest. Villyan Bijev almost threw T2 a lifeline moments after Hoffman had notched Real’s second with a good low shot that almost picked out the left corner of the net, but with 11 losses in 13 games this season it’s going to take something awfully special over the next 20 games for Portland to make a run at a postseason berth from here.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Andrew Brody, Real Monarchs SLC – Brody notched the opening goal of the game, and then began the move that led to the second, as the Monarchs continued their impressive run.