San Antonio FC beat Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 on Saturday at Toyota Field to remain undefeated in the 2017 USL season. A converted penalty kick from Rafa Castillo was enough to earn the hosts three points at home and expand their record winning streak to five matches in front of 7,234 fans.
“I’m very proud of our guys for the way they competed and challenged for everything,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “We talk about that and that’s what you’re going to see from these players. You see it week in and week out; they’re going to give everything [every time].”
Castillo opened the scoring in the 64th minute after forward AJ Ajeakwa was brought down inside the box, earning the hosts a penalty kick. Castillo stepped up and buried it from the spot for the 1-0 lead. The goal marked Castillo’s third this season and his eighth overall for the club. Castillo is currently the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Ajeakwa also earned his first SWBC Man of the Match honors after coming in for Cesar Elizondo in the 41st minute. Ajeakwa completed 100 percent of his eight passes and drew two fouls, including the one that led to Castillo’s goal.
SAFC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo recorded his second consecutive shutout for the Alamo City club. Restrepo recorded four saves on the night in his fourth appearance for the Silver and Black since stepping in for the injured Matt Cardone.
“We’re a big unit here,” Restrepo said. “It’s not that hard to come in and adapt because they brought me in and told me to play my game, so I’m thankful to them because they’ve helped me get more comfortable.”
San Antonio FC will return to action on Saturday, May 13 at Toyota Field as they host Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the clubs’ second matchup of the season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Rafa Castillo (penalty) 64’
Disciplinary Summary:
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Sammy Ochoa 39’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Jeremy Hall 74’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Danny Barrera 75’)
SAFC: Yellow Card (Sebastien Ibeagha 76’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (James Kiffe 90’)
Attendance: 7,234
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Diego Restrepo; D: Ben Newnam, Sebasiten Ibeagha, Stephen McCarthy, Greg Cochrane; M: Pecka, Rafa Castillo (Zach Herivaux 78’), Michael Reed (c), Kris Tyrpak, Billy Forbes (Shawn Chin 86’); F: Cesar Elizondo (AJ Ajeakwa 41’)
Substitutions Not Used: Lee Johnston, Ryan Roushandel, Aly Alberto Hassan, Devin Vega
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC continued their unbeaten run on Saturday after defeating Republic FC 1-0 at Toyota Field…the club has won five straight games and its unbeaten streak has reached eight matches (seven wins, one draw)…SAFC currently sits in first place in the Western Conference standings
- SAFC midfielder Rafa Castillo scored his third goal of the season and eighth of his SAFC career…Castillo remains the club’s all-time leading scorer and currently ranks third in goals on the season behind Billy Forbes (six) and Cesar Elizondo (four)
- SAFC forward AJ Ajeakwa earned his first SWBC Man of the Match award after the substitute played 49 minutes and earned a penalty for SAFC, which led to the only and eventual game-winning goal
- SAFC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo kept his second consecutive clean sheet for SAFC after also holding Portland Timbers 2 goalless last week…Restrepo has now recorded nine saves in his four appearances (304 minutes)…San Antonio FC has now held five clean sheets, which is tied for the most in the USL
- With the victory, SAFC is now unbeaten in two all-time matches vs. Sacramento Republic FC (2-0-0)…the Alamo City club earned a 1-1 draw on the road in Sacramento last season before earning all three points tonight
- SAFC midfielder Pecka recorded a game-high 93.5 percent passing accuracy (min. eight passes) and currently leads the club in the same category on the season (85.7 percent)…SAFC defender Greg Cochrane led the club with four total clearances
San Antonio FC beat Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 on Saturday at Toyota Field to remain undefeated in the 2017 USL season. A converted penalty kick from Rafa Castillo was enough to earn the hosts three points at home and expand their record winning streak to five matches in front of 7,234 fans.
“I’m very proud of our guys for the way they competed and challenged for everything,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “We talk about that and that’s what you’re going to see from these players. You see it week in and week out; they’re going to give everything [every time].”
Castillo opened the scoring in the 64th minute after forward AJ Ajeakwa was brought down inside the box, earning the hosts a penalty kick. Castillo stepped up and buried it from the spot for the 1-0 lead. The goal marked Castillo’s third this season and his eighth overall for the club. Castillo is currently the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Ajeakwa also earned his first SWBC Man of the Match honors after coming in for Cesar Elizondo in the 41st minute. Ajeakwa completed 100 percent of his eight passes and drew two fouls, including the one that led to Castillo’s goal.
SAFC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo recorded his second consecutive shutout for the Alamo City club. Restrepo recorded four saves on the night in his fourth appearance for the Silver and Black since stepping in for the injured Matt Cardone.
“We’re a big unit here,” Restrepo said. “It’s not that hard to come in and adapt because they brought me in and told me to play my game, so I’m thankful to them because they’ve helped me get more comfortable.”
San Antonio FC will return to action on Saturday, May 13 at Toyota Field as they host Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the clubs’ second matchup of the season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Rafa Castillo (penalty) 64’
Disciplinary Summary:
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Sammy Ochoa 39’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Jeremy Hall 74’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (Danny Barrera 75’)
SAFC: Yellow Card (Sebastien Ibeagha 76’)
Republic FC: Yellow Card (James Kiffe 90’)
Attendance: 7,234
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Diego Restrepo; D: Ben Newnam, Sebasiten Ibeagha, Stephen McCarthy, Greg Cochrane; M: Pecka, Rafa Castillo (Zach Herivaux 78’), Michael Reed (c), Kris Tyrpak, Billy Forbes (Shawn Chin 86’); F: Cesar Elizondo (AJ Ajeakwa 41’)
Substitutions Not Used: Lee Johnston, Ryan Roushandel, Aly Alberto Hassan, Devin Vega
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC continued their unbeaten run on Saturday after defeating Republic FC 1-0 at Toyota Field…the club has won five straight games and its unbeaten streak has reached eight matches (seven wins, one draw)…SAFC currently sits in first place in the Western Conference standings
- SAFC midfielder Rafa Castillo scored his third goal of the season and eighth of his SAFC career…Castillo remains the club’s all-time leading scorer and currently ranks third in goals on the season behind Billy Forbes (six) and Cesar Elizondo (four)
- SAFC forward AJ Ajeakwa earned his first SWBC Man of the Match award after the substitute played 49 minutes and earned a penalty for SAFC, which led to the only and eventual game-winning goal
- SAFC goalkeeper Diego Restrepo kept his second consecutive clean sheet for SAFC after also holding Portland Timbers 2 goalless last week…Restrepo has now recorded nine saves in his four appearances (304 minutes)…San Antonio FC has now held five clean sheets, which is tied for the most in the USL
- With the victory, SAFC is now unbeaten in two all-time matches vs. Sacramento Republic FC (2-0-0)…the Alamo City club earned a 1-1 draw on the road in Sacramento last season before earning all three points tonight
- SAFC midfielder Pecka recorded a game-high 93.5 percent passing accuracy (min. eight passes) and currently leads the club in the same category on the season (85.7 percent)…SAFC defender Greg Cochrane led the club with four total clearances
