Swope Park Rangers forward Daniel Sallo scored in the second minute of the match, giving the visitors an early lead. The forward capitalized after chaos in the home team’s box led to a loose ball right in front of goal.
San Antonio found their rhythm at around the ten-minute mark, and took control of the half thereafter with quality possession. The home side managed to get the equalizer in the 42nd minute when forward Danny Garcia found himself one-on-one with the visitors’ goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the net. The move came after midfielder Carlos Alvarez found the former FC Dallas man with a slick through-ball.
“Carlos turned, and as soon as I saw him turn I just went,” Garcia said. “Carlos has great vision, so he just played me through and I took a touch and put it in the back of the net.”
The second half was a possession battle that saw back and forth attacks from both squads, but neither team was able to find the winning goal by the final whistle.
Despite the draw, Head Coach Darren Powell expressed pride in his team for coming back from an early deficit.
“It was our first home game and it wasn’t the great start we were hoping for,” Powell said. “But that happens and I can’t say enough how proud I am of the guys for coming back and responding well, and putting themselves in a position to win it. The most important thing you look for is the response of the players, and tonight I thought the response was good.”
San Antonio FC will return to action next week when they play LA Galaxy II at Stub Hub Center on Wednesday. Coverage for the game will be found on www.sanantoniofc.com and uslsoccer.com.
Scoring Summary:
SPR: 0-1, Daniel Salloi ‘2
SAFC: 1-1, Danny Garcia ’42 (Carlos Alvarez assist)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Josh Ford (c); D: Milton Palacios, Stephen McCarthy, Sam McBride, Greg Cochrane; M: Michael Reed, Rafa Castillo, Carlos Alvarez (Victor Araujo ’90); F: Bobby Moseley (Manolo Sanchez ’67), Danny Garcia (Carlos Alvarez ’55), Jason Johnson
Substitutions Not Used: Matt Cardone, Miguel Salazar, Sebastien Thuriere, Fejiro Okiomah
Postgame Notes:
- The match at San Antonio marked the largest crowd in Toyota Field history with 8,466 fans coming out to the match…the previous record was 8,313 set in 2014
- SAFC midfielder Danny Garcia scored his first goal for the club, playing in an advanced position on the wing…Garcia played in four games with FC Dallas of MLS in his career without scoring a professional goal
- Midfielder Carlos Alvarez recorded his first assist of the year when his through ball found Danny Garcia for the equalizer in the first half…Alvarez recorded two goals and four assists while on loan to the Charlotte Independence (USL) from the Colorado Rapids (MLS) last year
- Seven of the 10 outfield players for SAFC recorded at least one shot…Rafa Castillo led the way, taking four shots and hitting the target twice…SAFC outshot Swope Park Rangers 17-7
Swope Park Rangers forward Daniel Sallo scored in the second minute of the match, giving the visitors an early lead. The forward capitalized after chaos in the home team’s box led to a loose ball right in front of goal.
San Antonio found their rhythm at around the ten-minute mark, and took control of the half thereafter with quality possession. The home side managed to get the equalizer in the 42nd minute when forward Danny Garcia found himself one-on-one with the visitors’ goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the net. The move came after midfielder Carlos Alvarez found the former FC Dallas man with a slick through-ball.
“Carlos turned, and as soon as I saw him turn I just went,” Garcia said. “Carlos has great vision, so he just played me through and I took a touch and put it in the back of the net.”
The second half was a possession battle that saw back and forth attacks from both squads, but neither team was able to find the winning goal by the final whistle.
Despite the draw, Head Coach Darren Powell expressed pride in his team for coming back from an early deficit.
“It was our first home game and it wasn’t the great start we were hoping for,” Powell said. “But that happens and I can’t say enough how proud I am of the guys for coming back and responding well, and putting themselves in a position to win it. The most important thing you look for is the response of the players, and tonight I thought the response was good.”
San Antonio FC will return to action next week when they play LA Galaxy II at Stub Hub Center on Wednesday. Coverage for the game will be found on www.sanantoniofc.com and uslsoccer.com.
Scoring Summary:
SPR: 0-1, Daniel Salloi ‘2
SAFC: 1-1, Danny Garcia ’42 (Carlos Alvarez assist)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Josh Ford (c); D: Milton Palacios, Stephen McCarthy, Sam McBride, Greg Cochrane; M: Michael Reed, Rafa Castillo, Carlos Alvarez (Victor Araujo ’90); F: Bobby Moseley (Manolo Sanchez ’67), Danny Garcia (Carlos Alvarez ’55), Jason Johnson
Substitutions Not Used: Matt Cardone, Miguel Salazar, Sebastien Thuriere, Fejiro Okiomah
Postgame Notes:
- The match at San Antonio marked the largest crowd in Toyota Field history with 8,466 fans coming out to the match…the previous record was 8,313 set in 2014
- SAFC midfielder Danny Garcia scored his first goal for the club, playing in an advanced position on the wing…Garcia played in four games with FC Dallas of MLS in his career without scoring a professional goal
- Midfielder Carlos Alvarez recorded his first assist of the year when his through ball found Danny Garcia for the equalizer in the first half…Alvarez recorded two goals and four assists while on loan to the Charlotte Independence (USL) from the Colorado Rapids (MLS) last year
- Seven of the 10 outfield players for SAFC recorded at least one shot…Rafa Castillo led the way, taking four shots and hitting the target twice…SAFC outshot Swope Park Rangers 17-7
