San Antonio FC (2-6-3, 12 points) lost to Austin Bold FC (4-3-3, 15 points) 1-0 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. Alasanne Ates Diouf scored in the second minute for Austin and the goal held up the entire way. This despite Austin going down to 10 men after Austin's Sean Okoli was shown a straight red card in the 60'. It was Austin's first ever win at Toyota Field and it snapped SAFC's 18-match home unbeaten streak. San Antonio FC are now winless in seven straight games overall. Their last win occured on May 22. The Austin goal was Assisted by former SAFC player Omar Gordon.
SAFC are now solidly in 6th place in the Mountain Division. While they are only 2 points below the playoff line, they are now 8 points from the top of the division and they continue to lose ground. The match was also a Copa Tejas game, and SAFC are not looking good in those standings either. SAFC are in last place and are the only team without a win in the all-Texas Tournament. In fact, every other team has two wins in the Copa standings. SAFC are 6 points behind the leaders, RGV-FC, on the Copa Tejas table.
Said SAFC Manager Alen Marcina after the match, "I thought our guys performed very well, so this is difficult to accept. Like every game, we created a number of clean cut opportunities. We have to execute plain and simple. We have created more than enough to get the three points.”
Former SAFC man Omar Gordon made an incredible run down the wing and controlled possession for a long stretch before turning and finding Diouf wide open at the top of the San Antonio box where his one timer easily beat SAFC Keeper Matt Cardone, slotting the ball into the near side post for the early 1-0 lead and eventual match-winner. SAFC would have their best chance of the match shortly after that in the 6' when Forward Justin Dhillon had an open header on Austin's near post but his shot drifted harmlessly wide. It was a shock miss for SAFC's best offensive player in the month of June.
In the 60th minute Austin's Okoli would find himself red carded for a nasty challenge on Cardone when he was chasing a pass into the SAFC six. Cardone beat him to the ball and Okoli had no chance. He went in studs up on Cardone and that ended his participation in the match. San Antonio were unable to find the equalizer despite the extra man advantage for 30 minutes.
Said Midfielder Cam Lindley, “I think we created enough chances to score and win the game. At the same time, we can’t give up a goal in the first two minutes. We have to execute on both sides of the ball. Its not just on the attackers, we have to execute better as a defensive group.”
Next up for SAFC are a pair of friendly matches at Toyota Field against Liga MX opponents. On July 6th they'll host Queretaro FC and on July 9th they'll host Pumas UNAM. SAFC returns to league play on Saturday July 17th away at Colorado.
IMAGES: SAN ANTONIO FC TWITTER, AUSTIN BOLD FC TWITTER
PHOTO: DARREN ABATE / INSTAGRAM: @PEAKACTION