San Antonio FC and OKC Energy FC played to a 1-1 draw in front of 8,131 fans at Toyota Field on Friday night, marking the club’s third USL sellout this season and fourth overall in franchise history.
“Fair play to OKC tonight,” said SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell. “They set themselves up differently than they have in previous games. The first half was tight and they were hard for us to break down. The second half we opened them up and got the goal. You always leave yourself vulnerable at 1-0. Goals change games. Now we’ve earned the point which is important in this league, and now we keep moving forward.”
SAFC midfielder Billy Forbes opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after goalkeeper Diego Restrepo found midfielder Devin Vega with a punt. Vega made his way up the field and played Forbes in, who chipped it into the net past goalkeeper Cody Laurendi for the 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Forbes’ seventh of the season and first since April 28, putting him just one short of tying Rafa Castillo’s all-time leading record (eight), while Vega recorded his second assist of the season after recording his first of the campaign on April 28 as well.
OKC Energy FC came close to equalizing in the 84th minute when the Video Assistant Referee awarded the visitors a penalty, but defender Coady Andrews was denied by the crossbar. The Energy then equalized in the dying moments of the match when Miguel Gonzales capitalized off a moment of chaos in the hosts’ box.
The sellout marks the second highest attendance at Toyota Field in San Antonio FC history, and is the first consecutive sellout at the venue after SAFC drew 8,007 fans to its first international friendly against Club Santos Laguna (Liga MX) last Saturday.
SAFC will return to action on Saturday, July 22 as the club hosts first-place Real Monarchs SLC at Toyota Field at 7:30 p.m. The match will mark the first of two matches between the Western Conference leaders this season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Billy Forbes (Devin Vega assist 52’)
Energy FC: 1-1, Miguel Gonzalez 90’
Disciplinary Summary:
Energy FC: Yellow Card (Sam Fink 23’)
Attendance: 8,131
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Diego Restrepo; D: Cyprian Hedrick, Sebasiten Ibeagha, Stephen McCarthy (Mark O’Ojong 82’), Greg Cochrane; M: Michael Reed (c), Devin Vega (Maxi Rodriguez 90’), Rafa Castillo, Kris Tyrpak, Billy Forbes; F: AJ Ajeakwa (Victor Araujo 72’)
Substitutions Not Used: Lee Johnston, Ryan Roushandel, Aly Alberto Hassan, Cesar Elizondo
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC remain unbeaten through nine home matches this season…SAFC has not lost at home since 9/10/16 vs. Saint Louis FC…marks the fourth draw in five overall matches with OKC in club history…neither SAFC or Energy FC has ever scored more than one goal each in a single matchup
- With the draw, San Antonio FC sits on 36 points in the USL standings…the club has now tied their entire point tally from the 2016 season when they recorded 36 points in 30 matches
- San Antonio FC midfielder Billy Forbes was named SWBC Man of the Match after he scored his team-leading seventh goal of the USL season…the goal marked Forbes’ first since 4/28 at Portland Timbers 2…with the strike, Forbes is one goal shy of the all-time club record, which is currently held by teammate Rafa Castillo (eight goals)
- SAFC has not kept a clean sheet in their last four matches, conceding just one goal in each of the last four USL games…SAFC previously recorded 10 shutouts in their first 13 matches…SAFC has only allowed more than a single goal in a game once this season (4/25 at Seattle)
- San Antonio FC midfielder Devin Vega recorded his second assist of the USL season and first since 4/28 at Portland Timbers 2
- Toyota Field hosted its second consecutive sellout in all competitions, with 8,131 fans in attendance tonight…comes after SAFC hosted 8,000 plus fans in an international club friendly match against Liga MX side Santos Laguna last week…tonight’s sellout was the third USL sellout this season for the club, and second-highest attendance in team history
- SAFC defender Greg Cochrane led the team with seven tackles and also added four clearances and one interception…defender Sebastien Ibeagha recorded a game-high nine clearances while Devin Vega led the team in passing accuracy (87 percent, min. 20 passes)
San Antonio FC and OKC Energy FC played to a 1-1 draw in front of 8,131 fans at Toyota Field on Friday night, marking the club’s third USL sellout this season and fourth overall in franchise history.
“Fair play to OKC tonight,” said SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell. “They set themselves up differently than they have in previous games. The first half was tight and they were hard for us to break down. The second half we opened them up and got the goal. You always leave yourself vulnerable at 1-0. Goals change games. Now we’ve earned the point which is important in this league, and now we keep moving forward.”
SAFC midfielder Billy Forbes opened the scoring in the 52nd minute after goalkeeper Diego Restrepo found midfielder Devin Vega with a punt. Vega made his way up the field and played Forbes in, who chipped it into the net past goalkeeper Cody Laurendi for the 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Forbes’ seventh of the season and first since April 28, putting him just one short of tying Rafa Castillo’s all-time leading record (eight), while Vega recorded his second assist of the season after recording his first of the campaign on April 28 as well.
OKC Energy FC came close to equalizing in the 84th minute when the Video Assistant Referee awarded the visitors a penalty, but defender Coady Andrews was denied by the crossbar. The Energy then equalized in the dying moments of the match when Miguel Gonzales capitalized off a moment of chaos in the hosts’ box.
The sellout marks the second highest attendance at Toyota Field in San Antonio FC history, and is the first consecutive sellout at the venue after SAFC drew 8,007 fans to its first international friendly against Club Santos Laguna (Liga MX) last Saturday.
SAFC will return to action on Saturday, July 22 as the club hosts first-place Real Monarchs SLC at Toyota Field at 7:30 p.m. The match will mark the first of two matches between the Western Conference leaders this season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Billy Forbes (Devin Vega assist 52’)
Energy FC: 1-1, Miguel Gonzalez 90’
Disciplinary Summary:
Energy FC: Yellow Card (Sam Fink 23’)
Attendance: 8,131
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Diego Restrepo; D: Cyprian Hedrick, Sebasiten Ibeagha, Stephen McCarthy (Mark O’Ojong 82’), Greg Cochrane; M: Michael Reed (c), Devin Vega (Maxi Rodriguez 90’), Rafa Castillo, Kris Tyrpak, Billy Forbes; F: AJ Ajeakwa (Victor Araujo 72’)
Substitutions Not Used: Lee Johnston, Ryan Roushandel, Aly Alberto Hassan, Cesar Elizondo
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC remain unbeaten through nine home matches this season…SAFC has not lost at home since 9/10/16 vs. Saint Louis FC…marks the fourth draw in five overall matches with OKC in club history…neither SAFC or Energy FC has ever scored more than one goal each in a single matchup
- With the draw, San Antonio FC sits on 36 points in the USL standings…the club has now tied their entire point tally from the 2016 season when they recorded 36 points in 30 matches
- San Antonio FC midfielder Billy Forbes was named SWBC Man of the Match after he scored his team-leading seventh goal of the USL season…the goal marked Forbes’ first since 4/28 at Portland Timbers 2…with the strike, Forbes is one goal shy of the all-time club record, which is currently held by teammate Rafa Castillo (eight goals)
- SAFC has not kept a clean sheet in their last four matches, conceding just one goal in each of the last four USL games…SAFC previously recorded 10 shutouts in their first 13 matches…SAFC has only allowed more than a single goal in a game once this season (4/25 at Seattle)
- San Antonio FC midfielder Devin Vega recorded his second assist of the USL season and first since 4/28 at Portland Timbers 2
- Toyota Field hosted its second consecutive sellout in all competitions, with 8,131 fans in attendance tonight…comes after SAFC hosted 8,000 plus fans in an international club friendly match against Liga MX side Santos Laguna last week…tonight’s sellout was the third USL sellout this season for the club, and second-highest attendance in team history
- SAFC defender Greg Cochrane led the team with seven tackles and also added four clearances and one interception…defender Sebastien Ibeagha recorded a game-high nine clearances while Devin Vega led the team in passing accuracy (87 percent, min. 20 passes)
