San Antonio FC hosted an International Friendly match at Toyota Field on Saturday night against the "other" SAFC, Sunderland Association Football Club. In a battle of the Black Cats vs the White Cats, Sunderland came out on top 3-1. The match was played in front of a season high 8,328 fans; a sell out. Chris Rigg and Jewi Bennette scored for Sunderland who also added an own-goal in the win. PC scored a phenomenal free kick Goal for San Antonio FC. It was the first Goal of the season for PC who has spent a large portion of the first half of the season on the injury list.
San Antonio FC Manager Alen Marcina summed up the night. “Great experience, to play such a prestigious club. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, our guys embraced the challenges, some guys maximized the opportunities. It’s great for the club, we got seven academy players to play in the game which is huge for the club, and huge for them. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our academy players. All in all, I think very very positive.”
Sunderland A.F.C of the EFL Championship have a storied history. They were founded nearly 150 years ago. They are six-time winners of England's First Division and two-time FA Cup winners. Most recently they captured the EFL Trophy in 2021. The club gained additional notoriety in the United States thanks to a two-season documentary that aired on Netflix entitled "Sunderland Til I Die" which doucumented their 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. A forthcoming season covering 2021-22 is scheduled for a future release.
For San Antonio FC, they will be hoping this mid-season Friendly doesn't derail their current League form. Following a tough June that saw the team earn zero wins with three draws and a loss, they have rebounded significantly in July. The team is currently riding a three match winning streak highlighted by Wednesday's 2-1 road win versus second place El Paso Locomotive. The win doubled as a Copa Tejas victory, an in-season competition to crown the best USL Championship team in Texas. Thanks to the hot streak, SAFC entered the weekend tied with Sacramento for first place in USL Championship West, and they finished the weekend only one point behind.
Over the years San Antonio FC has racked up an impressive list of International opponets from both overseas and Mexico. Sunderland joins Cardiff City, Club Santos Laguna, Pumas UNAM, Queretaro FC, and Atletico de San Luis as International opponents who have visited Toyota Field. San Antonio's only victory came in 2018 when they defeated Club Santos Laguna 2-1.
It was visiting Sunderland who scored first with a beautiful ball played over the top of the San Antonio defense. The pass caught Sunderland’s Chris Rigg in stride. He beat the last Defender to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead in the 15’.
San Antonio FC hit back in the 26'. PC, on a free kick from near midfield, struck an absolute wonder goal to even the match at 1-1, catching Sunderland Keeper Anthony Patterson off his line. That spectacular Goal is surely up there with any of the best Goals ever scored at Toyota Field. Said PC, “I saw their defensive line was super high, and the keeper was almost on the penalty spot so I said ‘let me try something different’ and I hit a great ball.”
Just before halftime Sunderland Forward Hemir put the Black Cats back in front to take a 2-1 lead. A nifty pass from Sunderland’s Lynden Gooch put the ball through the San Antonio box and Hemir slid it past San Antonio Keeper Carlos Mercado to give the lead back to the Black Cats. The Goal turned out to be the match winner and was officially deemed an own-goal.
In the second half, San Antonio Defender Connor Maloney bailed out Mercado on a ball that got past the San Antonio Keeper in the box. Maloney was there to send it harmlessly past the end line. Shortly after that play, in the 50’, Maloney went down hard with an apparent arm injury and was subbed out of the match. He left the field in obvious pain. It’s a worrying moment for one of the Club’s top players as San Antonio stares down the back half of their season and a playoff push.
Photo: Darren Abate
There was almost late drama in the match as San Antonio's Bacho nearly had an equalizer in the 90’. He was able to get off a shot in the Sunderland six yard box after a cross from Justin Dhillon but it was saved on the line.
In second half added time Sunderland's Bennette would add a third Goal to seal the result, 3-1 to the Black Cats.
Marcina wrapped up his thoughts on the match, “Our pressing actions were very very good. Now when we fatigued a bit, and again some of the guys are not, maybe, 100 percent match fit, in our system if one or two aren’t there quick enough the whole system can break down pretty fast. So that’s our learning lesson, which is good. And against such a high level opponent, you’re going to get exposed a bit. Even when we’re at our best you’re going to get exposed. Great learning opportunity that we have to be focused for every moment of the match, the intensity has to be optimal, but more positives for sure. Some guys did very very well. Again, seven academy kids is a lot. Going against some top top class players.”
Photo: Darren Abate
Next up for San Antonio FC is a return to league play next weekend. They will host The Miami FC from the USL Eastern Conference at Toyota Field on Saturday July 22 with Kickoff scheduled for 8pm. Fans will have plenty of chances to see the defending Champions in action this Summer. Five of the next six matches for SAFC will be at Toyota Field.
IMAGES - SAN ANTONIO FC
PHOTOS- DARREN ABATE / INSTAGRAM: @Peakaction