Sandy • Stuck in the unfortunate albeit necessary process that comes with being an expansion franchise, the Real Monarchs are still glowing after winning their first-ever U.S. Open Cup match a week ago.
That 1-0 win over the Long Island Rough Riders last Wednesday in Long Island, N.Y., stamped a third-round Open Cup home match for the Monarchs, who host USL rival Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Wednesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium at 7 p.m.
Struggling in USL play at 1-6-3, the Monarchs look at the Open Cup as a respite from league action and are embracing the one-and-done environment of playing in a major domestic tournament in Year 1 as a club.
Should the Monarchs beat Colorado Springs on Wednesday night, they'd advance to face the Colorado Rapids on June 16 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
"Now the emotions from everybody [are] getting hyped again," said Monarchs midfielder Ricardo Velazco, who scored the game-winner at Long Island last Wednesday. "We get a big opportunity to showcase ourselves in the U.S. Open Cup, and getting a result here, winning here, would be a great step to then go play Colorado Rapids, which would be huge for us and the franchise."
Monarchs coach Freddy Juarez said entering Open Cup play and winning its inaugural tournament match came at an ideal time for a club that has been squandering leads and conceding late goal after late goal in league play. He's explained to his club, as it prepares for Colorado Springs, that the circumstances have changed and if the Monarchs want to make their own run, they have to learn to close off games.
"You better manage the game and you've got to finish off the game, or there's no second chance," he said. "It's been, actually, part of the development to have them in a game with that scenario where you've got to win if you want to keep advancing."
The Switchbacks have topped the Monarchs both times in their first two meetings, including a 1-0 win at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 11, followed by a 5-2 win in blizzard conditions in Colorado Springs on April 20.
"If you don't match [Colorado Springs'] intensity, then it becomes a very difficult game for you," Juarez said. "If you can match that quality and obviously get some goals, it obviously changes their plan up a little bit."
Forward Emery Welshman is one of the few Monarchs who have previous Open Cup experience. He played in the tournament in 2012 with the Portland Timbers' U-23 side, but was bounced in the first round.
"I want to go as far as I can, I want to play MLS teams and I want to beat MLS teams," he said. "To get to there, we've got to win [Wednesday]."
Real Salt Lake is scheduled to host the winner of Portland Timbers 2 and Seattle Sounders 2 in the fourth round of the Open Cup on June 17 at 8 p.m. in Sandy.
ckamrani@sltrib.com
Twitter: @chriskamrani
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible