San Antonio FC (12-9-7) beat Phoenix Rising FC (16-7-5) 3-2 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Goals from Cyprian Hedrick, Ever Guzman, and Lance Laing earned the club its third consecutive win.
Phoenix Rising opened the scoring 15 minutes in when forward Chris Cortez put a header past SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone following a cross from teammate Solomon Asante.
SAFC equalized in the 22nd minute when Hedrick buried a header past goalkeeper Zac Lubin following a corner kick from Laing. The goal marks Hedrick’s first career goal in his 128th professional game, while the assist marks Laing’s third of the season.
The Alamo City club then took the lead in the 33rd minute after forward Mike Seth intercepted a pass from the visitors and played Guzman in on goal, who slotted it past Lubin to make it 2-1. The goal marks Guzman’s team-leading eighth of the season and 12th overall since joining SAFC in July 2017. The Mexican striker is now the club’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Rafa Castillo’s tally.
The hosts added a third goal in the 50th minute after midfielder Connor Presley was brought down in the box and earned a penalty. Laing stepped up and converted from the spot to score his third goal of the season. The Jamaican midfielder has now scored a goal and tallied an assist in three consecutive matches for the first time in his career, and is now tied for third-most goals and second-most assists on the team.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 87th minute after Cortez buried a free kick, but were ultimately unable to find an equalizer.
SAFC defender Moises Hernandez made his club debut after joining on loan from FC Dallas (MLS), playing 90 minutes and recording four clearances, two tackles, one block, and an 81 percent passing accuracy.
San Antonio FC will return to USL action on Saturday, Sept. 15 as they visit Tulsa Roughnecks FC in the first of three consecutive away matches in the span of eight days.
Scoring Summary:
Rising FC: 0-1, Chris Cortez (Solomon Asante assist) 15’
SAFC: 1-1, Cyprian Hedrick (Lance Laing assist) 22’
SAFC: 2-1, Ever Guzman (Mike Seth assist) 33’
SAFC: 3-1, Lance Laing (penalty) 50’
Rising FC: 3-2, Chris Cortez 87’
Disciplinary Summary:
Rising FC: Yellow Card (Joseph Farrell 19’)
SAFC: Yellow Card (Connor Presley 45’)
SAFC: Yellow Card (Mikey Lopez 89’)
SAFC: Yellow Card (Kyle Murphy 90’)
Attendance: 6,534
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone; D: Darnell King, Cyprian Hedrick, Moises Hernandez, Greg Cochrane (c); M: Mikey Lopez, Pecka (Maxi Rodriguez 63’), Mike Seth (Kyle Murphy 78’), Lance Laing (Charlie Ward 72’), Connor Presley; F: Ever Guzman
Substitutions Not Used: Armando Quezada, Ryan Roushandel, Ethan Bryant, Ryan Felix
Postgame Notes: