The shootout was The Town FC’s sixth of the season. The winning result continued the team’s unbeaten home record and ended the homestand on a high note. (Photo/Jose Rocha)
MORAGA, Calif. — Defender Alejandro Cano scored his first career professional goal and The Town FC prevailed in the shootout to secure a coveted two points against Real Monarchs at Saint Mary’s Stadium on Sunday.
Goalkeeper David Sweeney made his second start and recorded three saves to prevent Real Monarchs (4-10-3, 17 points) from coming out in front. In the shootout, Sweeney was fortunate to not have to make any saves as Real Monarchs missed two shots that were off frame.
“I was pretty comfortable in the shootout and was really confident we were gonna win,” Sweeney said postgame. “Our goalie coach always says, ‘A miss is way better than a save sometimes,’ and they missed twice.”
In what was its sixth shootout of the season, The Town FC (6-5-6, 27 points) only missed one shot. The regulation draw ensured that the team’s unbeaten home streak would live to see another day, as The Town is now 4-0-5 on familiar ground.
Cano’s goal, which arrived in the 49th minute, came off a short-corner play and a header that led to the 20-year-old heading the ball in himself. Forward Riley Lynch sent a chip deep into the 18-yard box and forward Julian Donnery transferred the ball to Cano to cap off the play.
“It’s great to get a goal, finally get that off my chest,” Cano said. “It’s just gonna keep coming naturally.”
Cano, a third-year player on the team, had never registered a goal contribution at the professional level before, making the goal a personal historical moment for him. His tally made him the 10th different Town FC player to score at least one goal this season and the 15th player to post a goal contribution.
“I’m thrilled for [Cano] because he spends a lot of time in training and after practice working on that,” TTFC head coach DeGeer said. “He was very aggressive in the air, not just on the goal.”
Lynch’s assist was his seventh goal contribution of the year, while Donnery’s was his fourth goal contribution in the last four games.
TTFC’s attempt for a third consecutive clean sheet would be halted in the 72nd minute, however, as Real Monarchs midfielder Owen Anderson sent the ball from outside the box over Sweeney’s reach to level the match. The teams closely fought for the final stretch of regulation before the shootout, where two critical misses led to Real Monarchs’ defeat.
“The guys are just continuing to become more comfortable with themselves and the game model,” DeGeer said. “That’s always been positive for us.”
Both sides had previously squared off on April 14, when The Town FC took a 1-0 victory thanks to Lynch’s goal. TTFC will aim to remain unbeaten against the Salt Lake City-based club when they face again on September 8.
Next, The Town FC will head south to Thousand Oaks to face Ventura County FC (6-4-8, 33 points), a team that it has not been able to beat yet this season.
The matchup will be The Town’s first road game since June 23.
“Having the fans is always like playing with 12 players,” Cano said. “Every time they show up, it gives us energy and we feed on that.”
Ventura County has drawn in regulation in six of its last seven contests, placing it in third place in the Western Conference. TTFC, now on a four-game unbeaten streak, grasps onto playoff position at eighth in the conference.
The battle will commence at 7 p.m. on July 28 at William Rolland Stadium in the teams’ final head-to-head match of the regular season.
MEDIA ASSETS
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MATCH INFORMATION
2024 MLS NEXT Pro Season
The Town FC 1[4] – 1[3] Real Monarchs
Saint Mary’s Stadium
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Scoring Summary:
TTFC (1-0) – A. Cano 49’
SLC (1-1) – O. Anderson 72’
Misconduct Summary:
TTFC – E. Blancas (Caution) 27’
SLC – I. Paul (Caution) 83’
The Town FC: D. Sweeney (GK), R. Ibarra, A. Cano, S. Bilter, J. Garcia, B. Leroux (W. Eisner – 73’), E. Mendoza (O. Hernandez – 86’), E. Blancas (C), R. Lynch, J. Donnery, R. Tsunehara (J. Spivey – 73’)
Substitutes not used: S. Chavira, C. Cowell, M. Guerra, W. Ostraner, K. Spivey
SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 11; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 3
Real Monarchs: F. Delgado (GK), D. Silva, Z. Farnsworth, E. Holt (O. Alba – 63’), K. Storlie (C), L. Moisa (J. Orozco – 63’), G. Dillon, D. Iskenderian, B. Redzic (I. Paul – 45’), O. Marquez (A. Hezarkhani – 73’), O. Anderson (B. Jacquesson – 73’)
Substitutes not used: K. Pierre, L. Rivera, W. Mackay
SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 12; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2