Photos: Real Monarchs' MLS NEXT Pro playoff debut upended by penalty, red card
Jesus Barea's first-half goal could not stand up as a penalty kick, red card aided fifth-seeded Minnesota United FC 2 to rally to a 2-1 win.
Real Monarchs’ inaugural MLS NEXT Pro playoff chase ended in heartbreak Sunday night when Minnesota United FC 2 rallied for a 2-1 win.
The Real Salt Lake second team started hot, when leading scorer Jesús Barea worked magic again with a stunning goal from the left edge of the box to go up 1-0 in the 24th minute. It was his 14th goal of the year after notching a team-high 13 during the regular season.
Goalkeeper Will Mackay and a pair of goal-line saves by Tommy Silva and Rubén Mesalles kept the shutout through halftime. But the match turned dramatically on a penalty kick and a red card.
Alexis Farina converted a penalty in the 66th minute, beating Mackay down the middle to equalize.
Five minutes later, RSL homegrown Aiden Hezarkhani was sent off after an uncharacteristic red card, forcing Monarchs to play down a man for the remainder of the duration.
The shorthanded squad held out until the 86th minute, when Minnesota winger Kieran Chandler found Momoh Kamara with a wide cross that Kamara finished with one touch for the final margin.
Real Monarchs finish with a 13-8-8 record and 51 points, its best finish since the club joined MLS NEXT Pro in 2022 and the most wins in a single season since 2019.
Photographer Derick Fox was at the match. Here’s a look at the Monarchs’ MLS NEXT Pro playoff debut, through his lens.









