The Real Monarchs made club history just a week ago by winning their first-ever playoff game. On Friday night, they made even more history.
The Monarchs advanced to the USL Western Conference Finals with a 2-1 upset win over Phoenix Rising, the top seed in the West.
The Monarchs will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Sacramento and El Paso. Regardless of opponent, the Monarchs will host the game.
The Monarchs came back after conceding the first goal of the game. Jack Blake and Maikel Chang each put one away for the Monarchs, while Junior Flemmings scored the lone goal for the Rising.
Flemmings scored in the 25th minute for Phoenix, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 deficit. Blake found the equalizer in the 34th from about 20 yards after the Rising gave the ball away in their defensive third. Chang had a close-range shot a minute earlier that went wide.
In the 44th minute, Chang redeemed himself and put away a left-footed shot that rolled past Phoenix goalkeeper Zac Lubin. The goal gave the Monarchs a 2-1 lead that, despite plenty of late pressure by the Rising, they didn’t relinquish.
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