San Antonio FC earned a 2-1 win against Houston Dutch Lions FC on Wednesday in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Conroe, TX. Goals from Victor Araujo and Aly Alberto Hassan were enough to secure the club its spot in the third round of the tournament.
“We’re very pleased with our guys,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “We have a lot of guys who haven’t been playing in the first team in regular season games, so it was a good opportunity for them to play tonight in a competitive environment and show what they’re capable of doing.”
San Antonio FC opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Araujo slotted a direct free-kick low and into the far post of the goal. The goal marked the Brazilian’s first this season in his second appearance for the club since returning from a season-ending injury he suffered last June.
SAFC widened their lead in the 41st minute after Hassan intercepted a pass near the hosts’ box and found himself in alone on goal. The forward slotted the ball past goalkeeper Marc Olson for the 2-0 lead. The goal marks Hassan’s second for the club in all competitions after he scored his first USL goal on April 22 at Whitecaps FC 2.
The Dutch Lions then narrowed the gap in the 62nd minute after a low pass across the mouth of the goal was cleared into Nathaniel Coons, who ricocheted the ball past SAFC goalkeeper Lee Johnston to make it 2-1.
The match marked Johnston and SAFC midfielder Mark O’Ojong’s first appearances for the club. Johnston joined the Alamo City club prior to their 2016 inaugural season, while O’Ojong recently signed with the club in April.
With the win, San Antonio FC will now face fellow USL club Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 31.
SAFC will return to action on Saturday, May 20 as it hosts Phoenix Rising FC at Toyota Field in USL play.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Victor Araujo 17’
SAFC: 2-0, Aly Alberto Hassan 41’
Dutch Lions: 2-1, Nathaniel Coons (Felix Verhaar assist) 62’
Disciplinary Summary:
Dutch Lions: Yellow Card (Remy Broekmans) 70’
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Lee Johnston; D: Juan Nino, Ryan Roushandel, Andrew Moullin, Ben Newnam (Cyprian Hedrick 63’); M: Mark O’Ojong, Rafa Castillo (c) (Pecka ’81), Maxi Rodriguez, Victor Araujo, Shawn Chin; F: Aly Alberto Hassan (Devin Vega 75’)
Substitutions Not Used: Diego Restrepo, Greg Cochrane, Billy Forbes, AJ Ajeakwa
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC advanced to the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win over the Houston Dutch Lions…marks the third win in Open Cup history for SAFC…San Antonio will travel to face the Tulsa Roughnecks in the third round on May 31
- SAFC midfielder Victor Araujo scored his second competitive goal for the club in his career, with a free-kick strike in the first half…Araujo’s only other SAFC goal came on June 18 of 2016 vs. the Colorado Springs Switchbacks
- SAFC forward Aly Alberto Hassan scored his first Open Cup goal and second in all competitions on the night…Hassan scored his only USL goal on April 22 in Vancouver against Whitecaps FC 2
- SAFC goalkeeper Lee Johnston made his first ever appearance for San Antonio FC, conceding just one goal in the match…Johnston originally joined the club after a successful tryout during the 2016 preseason
- SAFC midfielder Mark O’Ojong and defender Andrew Moullin both made their club debuts, playing 90 minutes each
San Antonio FC earned a 2-1 win against Houston Dutch Lions FC on Wednesday in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in Conroe, TX. Goals from Victor Araujo and Aly Alberto Hassan were enough to secure the club its spot in the third round of the tournament.
“We’re very pleased with our guys,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “We have a lot of guys who haven’t been playing in the first team in regular season games, so it was a good opportunity for them to play tonight in a competitive environment and show what they’re capable of doing.”
San Antonio FC opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Araujo slotted a direct free-kick low and into the far post of the goal. The goal marked the Brazilian’s first this season in his second appearance for the club since returning from a season-ending injury he suffered last June.
SAFC widened their lead in the 41st minute after Hassan intercepted a pass near the hosts’ box and found himself in alone on goal. The forward slotted the ball past goalkeeper Marc Olson for the 2-0 lead. The goal marks Hassan’s second for the club in all competitions after he scored his first USL goal on April 22 at Whitecaps FC 2.
The Dutch Lions then narrowed the gap in the 62nd minute after a low pass across the mouth of the goal was cleared into Nathaniel Coons, who ricocheted the ball past SAFC goalkeeper Lee Johnston to make it 2-1.
The match marked Johnston and SAFC midfielder Mark O’Ojong’s first appearances for the club. Johnston joined the Alamo City club prior to their 2016 inaugural season, while O’Ojong recently signed with the club in April.
With the win, San Antonio FC will now face fellow USL club Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 31.
SAFC will return to action on Saturday, May 20 as it hosts Phoenix Rising FC at Toyota Field in USL play.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Victor Araujo 17’
SAFC: 2-0, Aly Alberto Hassan 41’
Dutch Lions: 2-1, Nathaniel Coons (Felix Verhaar assist) 62’
Disciplinary Summary:
Dutch Lions: Yellow Card (Remy Broekmans) 70’
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Lee Johnston; D: Juan Nino, Ryan Roushandel, Andrew Moullin, Ben Newnam (Cyprian Hedrick 63’); M: Mark O’Ojong, Rafa Castillo (c) (Pecka ’81), Maxi Rodriguez, Victor Araujo, Shawn Chin; F: Aly Alberto Hassan (Devin Vega 75’)
Substitutions Not Used: Diego Restrepo, Greg Cochrane, Billy Forbes, AJ Ajeakwa
Postgame Notes:
- San Antonio FC advanced to the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win over the Houston Dutch Lions…marks the third win in Open Cup history for SAFC…San Antonio will travel to face the Tulsa Roughnecks in the third round on May 31
- SAFC midfielder Victor Araujo scored his second competitive goal for the club in his career, with a free-kick strike in the first half…Araujo’s only other SAFC goal came on June 18 of 2016 vs. the Colorado Springs Switchbacks
- SAFC forward Aly Alberto Hassan scored his first Open Cup goal and second in all competitions on the night…Hassan scored his only USL goal on April 22 in Vancouver against Whitecaps FC 2
- SAFC goalkeeper Lee Johnston made his first ever appearance for San Antonio FC, conceding just one goal in the match…Johnston originally joined the club after a successful tryout during the 2016 preseason
- SAFC midfielder Mark O’Ojong and defender Andrew Moullin both made their club debuts, playing 90 minutes each
