The 6th season for SAFC will finally get going this Saturday night, a few weeks delayed from when a typical USL Championship season begins, due to continued caution surrounding the ongoing global pandemic. The good news for the league is a full season of games is on the docket after having to navigate through a shortened 2020 season. SAFC will play 32 games this year, including 4 games against Eastern Conference opponents that SAFC has never played before.
San Antonio starts and ends the regular season at home against the Colorado Switchbacks. The teams will close the regular season back at Toyota Field on October 30th.
SAFC will be able to concentrate on league play for the second year in a row as a scaled down US Open Cup (if it happens at all) will not include SAFC in 2021. Only four USL Championship teams made the cut. With such a congested league schedule already in place, that may not be the worst outcome for the team, although it is still disappointing.
In better news, there is still a second trophy to play for. Copa Tejas returns in 2021 for its second go-around after a hiatus last season due to scheduling. Those fixtures have doubled with a bigger focus on regional play this season. Instead of the typical 6 matches, each Texas team will have 12 Copa Tejas matches lined up this season to determine the Kings of the Lone Star State’s USL teams. SAFC will also be eligible for the newly created Copa Tejas Shield. Fans can read more about that competition and how the winner is determined on the Copa Tejas website.
SAFC will also be featured in two Nationally televised games in 2021, both on ESPN 2 in the same week. July 17 away to this same Colorado team and at home on July 21st in a playoff rematch against New Mexico United.
Alen Marcina begins his second season at the helm of a team who when last we saw them were bowing out of the USL Playoffs in their opening post-season game; a tough 1-0 loss to New Mexico United marred by controversy.An apparent handball just before the winning goal was scored went uncalled and with it went SAFC’s promising season. They won their group but faded down the stretch, losing three in a row to close the season.
As is frequently the case in USL life, the team has a brand-new look for 2021. Both sides of the ball will look vastly different in 2021. The offense has been completely revamped. Gone are 7 of the top 8 goal scorers from 2020 including leading scorer Luis Solignac and fan favorite Cristian Parano. In are a couple new Forwards with some MLS pedigree behind them, Santiago Patino (Orlando) and Justin Dhillon (Seattle). Also added to that group is Nathan Fogaca on loan from Brazil’s Coritiba FC.
Defensively, it’s more of the same. Exiting are recent mainstays Joshua Yaro, Mitchell Taintor, Blake Smith, Kai Greene, Hunter Gorskie. and Ebenezer Ackon. In are several more players with MLS ties. Mathieu Deplagne (Cincinnati), Sam Gleadle (Minnesota), and Jasser Khmiri on loan (Vancouver).
Midfield contains the most returnees for SAFC but new additions pepper that group as well including Marcus Epps (Timbers 2), Emil Cuello (MLS – LA Galaxy), and Chris Lema (NY Red Bulls II). Also signed was Ollie Wright from St Mary’s University in San Antonio.
The returnees that are on the roster have a significant San Antonio flair. That begins with the longest tenured SAFC player in team history, Keeper Matthew Cardone back for his 6th season. Joining him are Midfielders Jose Gallegos, Ethan Bryant, Victor “PC” Giro, and Leo Torres.
Torres signed a multi year contract extension in the offseason. Meanwhile Gallegos travelled to Europe for training stints with global powerhouses Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona. The talent of Gallegos can not be ignored and bigger things await him in the near future, possibly as soon as this summer. While he remains on the SAFC roster in 2021, fans should take extra care to appreciate seeing him in the black and silver while they still can.
Colorado is looking to improve upon a dreadful season, having only won two games in 2020. In the offseason Colorado saw two of their Defenders move to OKC Energy and they only re-signed six players, including Defensive star Jordan Burt. Among their new faces are five players on loan from MLS’ Colorado Rapids. Those players can be recalled by the Rapids at any point in 2021.
Perhaps the biggest news for the Switchbacks entering 2021 is their new stadium. The name is unchanged, but the new Weidner Field is described as a state of the art downtown facility. It will seat 8,000 fans and it will be the highest elevated stadium in USL Championship at 6,035 feet. They open the new digs on May 21st against New Mexico United.
SAFC will visit the new stadium twice in 2021. Once on June 5th and again on July 17th.
The Matchup (W-D-L)
Colorado Switchbacks FC (0-0-0, 0 points) at San Antonio FC (0-0-0, 0 points)
Toyota Field, Saturday May 1st, 2021
Kickoff 7:30pm Central Time
All Time History (W-D-L)
Saturday will mark the tenth league meeting between these two franchises (2-3-3). San Antonio only earned one point in this series in 2019. San Antonio also defeated Colorado in penalty kicks in Open Cup play in 2018. All time San Antonio is 3-3-3 in this series.
Season Series
5/1/21 @ SA
6/5/21 @ COL
7/17/21 @ COL
10/30/21 @SA
Last Time
SAFC let a 2-0 first half lead slip away in the season finale in 2019 at Toyota Field. An SAFC own goal and an equalizer from Bone in the 82’ crumbled SAFC’s playoff hopes on the final day of the 2019 season.
Here are the match highlights, if you can bear to watch them:
IMAGES – SAN ANTONIO FC TWITTER