Stoppage-time goal lifts Arizona United to win

A stoppage-time goal saved Arizona United from a draw with a last-place opponent Saturday night at Scottsdale Stadium. United midfielder Scott Morrison scored in the last minute of play to give United a 2-1 win over Real Monarchs SLC.

The goal came roughly 10 minutes after the Monarchs' Darion Copeland erased United's 1-0 lead in the 83rd minute. The win marked United's first back-to-back victories since early April, when the team started the season with three consecutive wins.

"It's always nice to score late," Morrison said. "We've not really managed to do that this season. It was nice to get a winner. It was a nice moment for us in front of the home fans."

The Monarchs (1-9-5, 8 points) haven't won in USL play since April 29 and sit in dead last in the USL's Western Conference. They were playing with only one day of rest after a 1-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC 2 on Thursday in Seattle. The win brought United to 6-6-1, 19 points, on the year.

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A dust storm blew through the area on Saturday, pushing the start of the match back 30 minutes and sending fans running for cover. After the delay, the teams played a scoreless first half. United controlled the possession for most of the half, while the Monarchs accumulated four yellow cards.

The Monarchs' Emery Welshman had what might have been the first half's best opportunity in the 32nd minute. United couldn't convert on a corner kick and a deflection found Welshman at midfield. Welshman blew past two United defenders and took it the length of the field before United's Joey Dillon recovered and knocked it out before Welshman could get a shot off.

"We didn't test the goalkeeper enough in the first half," Morrison said. "We were instructed to go out and take some more shots."

Even so, it was the Monarchs who came out with a flurry of opportunities early in the second half. United goalkeeper Carl Woszczysnki was solid behind his defense and eventually United got a chance.

In the 54th minute, United's Dennis Chin penetrated into the box and found forward Long Tan in front of the net. Tan punched it past Monarchs' goalkeeper Eduardo Fernandez. The goal was Tan's seventh of the season.

Looking to even things up, the Monarchs turned up the pressure.

Two good chances came on pair of corner kicks in the 80th and 82nd minutes. Woszczynski knocked the first one away and punched away the second. Moments later, a free kick was awarded to the Monarchs outside the box after United's Daniel Antunez earned a yellow card.

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That's when Monarchs midfielder Ricardo Velazco found Copeland for the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute. Copeland headed the free kick past Woszczynski.

It appeared as if United was going to have to settle with a tie until Morrison got past the Monarchs' defense. The goal was Morrison's first of the season.

"You've got to have trust and faith in your players and the guys you put out there," United coach Michael Dellorusso said. "They showed why they've been working so hard. They deserve for things to go their way right now. That's a credit to hard work."

United has a road match Thursday at Portland Timbers FC 2 before coming back to Scottsdale Stadium to face Orange County Blues FC on July 5.