San Antonio FC (1-0-1) tied Real Monarchs SLC (0-0-1) 2-2 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from midfielders Marcus Epps and Emil Cuello earned the Alamo City club a point at home to remain unbeaten in 2021.
“To go down a man so early, our guys showed a lot of resilience,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “We were still creating opportunities, but there were a few little details that cost us. I’m proud of the guys who demonstrated those resilient behaviors.”
SAFC opened the scoring early in the match after midfielder Cam Lindley found Epps in on goal with a through-ball, which he slotted low and far-post to earn the lead in the 19th minute. The goal marks Epps’ first for the Alamo City club after joining the team from Portland Timbers 2 prior to the 2021 campaign.
The hosts then went down a man after midfielder Nathan received a red card in the 31st minute. SAFC then doubled the lead just before the halftime break when Cuello collected a deflected shot near the top of the visitors’ box, where he took a touch and sent a powerful strike past goalkeeper Jeff Dewsnup to make it 2-0.
The Monarchs narrowed the margin just three minutes into the second half after Ibrahim Bance finished off a cross from close-range. The visitors then leveled the score in the 55th minute when midfielder Bode Davis found a rebound at the top of the box and struck a half-volley past goalkeeper Matthew Cardone. The playing field was leveled yet again in the 75th minute after the Monarchs’ Chris Garcia received his second yellow card of the match, leaving each team with 10 players.
SAFC strung together a few chances thereafter, but were denied their best one by the woodwork in the dying moments of the match. The Alamo City club will return to USL Championship action on Sunday, May 16 as the club visits South Texas rivals RGV FC at 7:30 p.m. for the first time this season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Marcus Epps (Cam Lindley assist) 19’
SAFC: 2-0, Emil Cuello 44’
SLC: 2-1, Ibrahim Bance (Bode Davis assist) 48’
SLC: 2-2, Bode Davis 55’
Disciplinary Summary:
SLC: Yellow Card (Chris Garcia) 26’
SAFC: Red Card (Nathan) 31’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Santiago Patino) 38’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Cam Lindley) 45’
SAFC: Yellow Card (PC) 68’
SLC: Red Card (Chris Garcia) 75’
SLC: Yellow Card (James Moberg) 83’
SLC: Yellow Card (Sam Brown) 88’
Attendance: 3,735 (socially distant)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone; D: Mathieu Deplagne, Jasser Khmiri, PC (c), Sam Gleadle; M: Chris Lema (Ollie Wright 79’), Cam Lindley, Marcus Epps, Emil Cuello; F: Santiago Patino, Nathan
Substitutions not used: Carlos Mercado, Rocky Perez, Ethan Bryant, Leo Torres, Fabrizio Bernal, Shandon Hopeau
Postgame Notes:
- SAFC continued its unbeaten run to 15 matches at home in the regular season with a 2-2 draw against Real Monarchs…SAFC improves its all-time regular season home record to 42-10-23 overall
- SAFC midfielders Marcus Epps and Emil Cuello both scored their first goals for the club in the win…midfielder Cam Lindley additionally recorded his first assist for SAFC
- SAFC defender PC recorded five tackles, five clearances, four interceptions and 10 possessions gained in the match…defender Jasser Khmiri led the team with seven interceptions through the 90 minutes
- With the 19th minute goal by Marcus Epps, SAFC scored its 80th goal in the first 30 minutes in regular season history…the 80 goals are four more than any other half hour period in club history with SAFC scoring 76 goals from minute 60 to 90
San Antonio FC (1-0-1) tied Real Monarchs SLC (0-0-1) 2-2 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from midfielders Marcus Epps and Emil Cuello earned the Alamo City club a point at home to remain unbeaten in 2021.
“To go down a man so early, our guys showed a lot of resilience,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “We were still creating opportunities, but there were a few little details that cost us. I’m proud of the guys who demonstrated those resilient behaviors.”
SAFC opened the scoring early in the match after midfielder Cam Lindley found Epps in on goal with a through-ball, which he slotted low and far-post to earn the lead in the 19th minute. The goal marks Epps’ first for the Alamo City club after joining the team from Portland Timbers 2 prior to the 2021 campaign.
The hosts then went down a man after midfielder Nathan received a red card in the 31st minute. SAFC then doubled the lead just before the halftime break when Cuello collected a deflected shot near the top of the visitors’ box, where he took a touch and sent a powerful strike past goalkeeper Jeff Dewsnup to make it 2-0.
The Monarchs narrowed the margin just three minutes into the second half after Ibrahim Bance finished off a cross from close-range. The visitors then leveled the score in the 55th minute when midfielder Bode Davis found a rebound at the top of the box and struck a half-volley past goalkeeper Matthew Cardone. The playing field was leveled yet again in the 75th minute after the Monarchs’ Chris Garcia received his second yellow card of the match, leaving each team with 10 players.
SAFC strung together a few chances thereafter, but were denied their best one by the woodwork in the dying moments of the match. The Alamo City club will return to USL Championship action on Sunday, May 16 as the club visits South Texas rivals RGV FC at 7:30 p.m. for the first time this season.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Marcus Epps (Cam Lindley assist) 19’
SAFC: 2-0, Emil Cuello 44’
SLC: 2-1, Ibrahim Bance (Bode Davis assist) 48’
SLC: 2-2, Bode Davis 55’
Disciplinary Summary:
SLC: Yellow Card (Chris Garcia) 26’
SAFC: Red Card (Nathan) 31’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Santiago Patino) 38’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Cam Lindley) 45’
SAFC: Yellow Card (PC) 68’
SLC: Red Card (Chris Garcia) 75’
SLC: Yellow Card (James Moberg) 83’
SLC: Yellow Card (Sam Brown) 88’
Attendance: 3,735 (socially distant)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone; D: Mathieu Deplagne, Jasser Khmiri, PC (c), Sam Gleadle; M: Chris Lema (Ollie Wright 79’), Cam Lindley, Marcus Epps, Emil Cuello; F: Santiago Patino, Nathan
Substitutions not used: Carlos Mercado, Rocky Perez, Ethan Bryant, Leo Torres, Fabrizio Bernal, Shandon Hopeau
Postgame Notes:
- SAFC continued its unbeaten run to 15 matches at home in the regular season with a 2-2 draw against Real Monarchs…SAFC improves its all-time regular season home record to 42-10-23 overall
- SAFC midfielders Marcus Epps and Emil Cuello both scored their first goals for the club in the win…midfielder Cam Lindley additionally recorded his first assist for SAFC
- SAFC defender PC recorded five tackles, five clearances, four interceptions and 10 possessions gained in the match…defender Jasser Khmiri led the team with seven interceptions through the 90 minutes
- With the 19th minute goal by Marcus Epps, SAFC scored its 80th goal in the first 30 minutes in regular season history…the 80 goals are four more than any other half hour period in club history with SAFC scoring 76 goals from minute 60 to 90
