San Antonio FC (7-8-6) beat Real Monarchs SLC (8-7-4) 3-1 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from midfielders Brian Gomez and Billy Forbes as well as one from forward Frank Lopez earned the Alamo City club three points at home to remain unbeaten in five consecutive matches.
“We’re always pleased to get three points in this league and we’re proud of the efforts of the players,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “At times we could have made that game more comfortable, but fair play to Monarchs who kept going and have quality players.”
SAFC opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he found a rebound off a save from goalkeeper David Ochoa and lobbed a shot past the keeper and a defender to gain the early lead. The goal marks Gomez’s fourth of the season, while the Argentina native has also recorded three assists in 2019.
The Alamo City club doubled its lead in the 31st minute when midfielder Cristian Parano drove up the middle of the pitch and found Lopez in on goal with a pass. The Cuban striker fired a shot past Ochoa to score his third goal in as many matches for the club and ninth overall in USL Championship play this season. The assist also marked Parano’s first of the campaign.
Real Monarchs went down a man in the 42nd minute of the match after forward Lionel Etoundi was given a red card for a dangerous tackle on SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone, who was substituted after the challenge by goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi. The visitors scored just before the halftime whistle after a mistake in the back left midfielder Luis Palma in on goal to make it 2-1.
SAFC scored the insurance goal in the 83rd minute when Forbes found the end of a pass by Lopez and fired the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 3-1. The goal marks Forbes third of the season while the assist marks Lopez’s first for the club.
Real Monarchs pressed late in the match, but a standout performance from Viscosi in which he tallied four saves paired with strong defensive performances from Kai Greene, Joshua Yaro and Eby Ackon helped SAFC hold on to their lead.
SAFC will return to USL Championship action on Saturday, Aug. 3 as the club hosts Sacramento Republic FC at Toyota Field at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Brian Gomez 15’
SAFC: 2-0, Frank Lopez (Cristian Parano assist) 31’
SLC: 2-1, Luis Palma 45’
SAFC: 3-1, Billy Forbes (Frank Lopez assist) 83’
Disciplinary Summary:
SLC: Yellow Card (Noah Powder) 28’
SLC: Red Card (Lionel Etoundi) 42’
SLC: Yellow Card (Justin Portillo) 51’
SLC: Yellow Card (Jack Blake) 62’
SLC: Yellow Card (Konrad Plewa) 82’
SLC: Yellow Card (Kalen Ryden) 90’
Attendance: 6,550
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone (Jonathan Viscosi 43’); D: Kai Greene, Eby Ackon, Joshua Yaro; M: Pecka (c), Michael Lahoud, Cristian Parano, Jack Barmby (Jose Gallegos 83’); F: Billy Forbes, Frank Lopez, Brian Gomez (Walter Restrepo 80’)
Substitutions Not Used: Johnny Fenwick, Pascal Eboussi, Bradford Jamieson IV, Rocky Perez
San Antonio FC (7-8-6) beat Real Monarchs SLC (8-7-4) 3-1 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from midfielders Brian Gomez and Billy Forbes as well as one from forward Frank Lopez earned the Alamo City club three points at home to remain unbeaten in five consecutive matches.
“We’re always pleased to get three points in this league and we’re proud of the efforts of the players,” SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. “At times we could have made that game more comfortable, but fair play to Monarchs who kept going and have quality players.”
SAFC opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he found a rebound off a save from goalkeeper David Ochoa and lobbed a shot past the keeper and a defender to gain the early lead. The goal marks Gomez’s fourth of the season, while the Argentina native has also recorded three assists in 2019.
The Alamo City club doubled its lead in the 31st minute when midfielder Cristian Parano drove up the middle of the pitch and found Lopez in on goal with a pass. The Cuban striker fired a shot past Ochoa to score his third goal in as many matches for the club and ninth overall in USL Championship play this season. The assist also marked Parano’s first of the campaign.
Real Monarchs went down a man in the 42nd minute of the match after forward Lionel Etoundi was given a red card for a dangerous tackle on SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone, who was substituted after the challenge by goalkeeper Jonathan Viscosi. The visitors scored just before the halftime whistle after a mistake in the back left midfielder Luis Palma in on goal to make it 2-1.
SAFC scored the insurance goal in the 83rd minute when Forbes found the end of a pass by Lopez and fired the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 3-1. The goal marks Forbes third of the season while the assist marks Lopez’s first for the club.
Real Monarchs pressed late in the match, but a standout performance from Viscosi in which he tallied four saves paired with strong defensive performances from Kai Greene, Joshua Yaro and Eby Ackon helped SAFC hold on to their lead.
SAFC will return to USL Championship action on Saturday, Aug. 3 as the club hosts Sacramento Republic FC at Toyota Field at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Brian Gomez 15’
SAFC: 2-0, Frank Lopez (Cristian Parano assist) 31’
SLC: 2-1, Luis Palma 45’
SAFC: 3-1, Billy Forbes (Frank Lopez assist) 83’
Disciplinary Summary:
SLC: Yellow Card (Noah Powder) 28’
SLC: Red Card (Lionel Etoundi) 42’
SLC: Yellow Card (Justin Portillo) 51’
SLC: Yellow Card (Jack Blake) 62’
SLC: Yellow Card (Konrad Plewa) 82’
SLC: Yellow Card (Kalen Ryden) 90’
Attendance: 6,550
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone (Jonathan Viscosi 43’); D: Kai Greene, Eby Ackon, Joshua Yaro; M: Pecka (c), Michael Lahoud, Cristian Parano, Jack Barmby (Jose Gallegos 83’); F: Billy Forbes, Frank Lopez, Brian Gomez (Walter Restrepo 80’)
Substitutions Not Used: Johnny Fenwick, Pascal Eboussi, Bradford Jamieson IV, Rocky Perez
