Austin FC II (3rd in West, 19 pts.) returns home to Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center to face Real Monarchs (11th in West, 12 pts.) on Friday, June 2 at 8:00 p.m. CT.
Austin FC II Outlook
ATXFC II suffered defeat in its previous match against Houston Dynamo 2. Although the team created several good scoring opportunities, they were ultimately unable to find the net. Austin doubled Dynamo 2’s tally in both shots (14-7) and shots taken in the box (10-5) despite falling 2-0.
Friday’s match against Real Monarchs kicks off the start of a six-match month for the Verde & Black with three fixtures at home and three away. After hosting only once in May, Austin will play three out of its next four games at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center.
The Verde & Black have maintained a strong defense this season, surrendering just nine goals which ranks second fewest in MLS NEXT Pro. Goalkeeper Damian Las has the league’s third-best save percentage (78.6 percent) and has faced the fourth-fewest shots (38) in MLSNP. Captain Joe Hafferty ranks second in MLSNP for tackles won (23) and led the team last match with a total of four (4). Austin will aim to build upon their impressive defensive performances on Friday night.
Real Monarchs Outlook
Real Monarchs ended their three-game losing streak with an away victory at Sporting KC II last time out, capitalizing off a SKC II own goal in the 31st minute to claim a 1-0 victory.
Monarchs have only managed to score nine goals in their first ten games this season, ranking second-to-last place in the MLSNP. However, they were able to secure five of those goals in a 5-1 win against Timbers2 during Matchday 6, all of which were scored in the second half. In the four games since then, they have only found the net twice.
Monarchs have fared better on the road with a record of 3-2-0 compared to a 1-4-0 record at home. Friday’s match between the two sides will mark the first of two meetings, with the second game taking place on June 30 at Zions Bank Stadium.
How to Watch
Fans can purchase tickets to watch the match at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center, and enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment at The Pitch, immediately adjacent to the stadium. For those who can’t make it, the match will be available to watch on the Apple TV app to MLS Season Pass subscribers.
