Sports stats



USL San Diego Loyal

First Half Goal Helps SD Loyal to 1-0 Win against Tacoma Defiance

September 19, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


San Diego, Calif. - He's not the loudest guy on the squad. He tends to stick to business and if there's noise to make he does it on the pitch.

Josh Yaro has become a solid piece in SD Loyal's back line. But that didn't stop him from making some noise on the offensive side of things Sunday afternoon. The defender from Kumasi, Ghana helped his team to a 1-0 win against visiting Tacoma Defiance in a Week 23 USL Championship match at Torero Stadium at USD.

Not only was it Yaro's first goal with SD Loyal (11-9-4, 37 points) but it was the score that sparked coach Landon Donovan team's first win against Tacoma Defiance this 2021 USL Championship season.

"As a player you have personal goals but at the end of the day the most important thing is the team goal," a humble Yaro said. "We needed three points and that's what we got. It was a little bit of a revenge if you can call it that. I am glad we got the points and the clean sheet because that is something in the backline we take pride in."

Yaro didn't boast about his goal but there was pride in it. He found the net when he headed a Charlie Adams corner kick, getting enough of the curving ball to send it on goal. The ball appeared to be redirected by a Tacoma Defiance defender and into the net past goalkeeper Spencer Richey in the 31st minute for the 1-0 lead.

It was all SD Loyal would need to earn another three points in the Pacific Division standings and remain in second place. Donovan's team is now unbeaten in its last three matches as it continues the push for the post season with eight matches remaining. SD Loyal had not beaten Tacoma Defiance in its last three meetings, including a 2-1 loss at home on Aug. 14.

"Today was a grind. Unfortunately, the (stadium) field had a lot of use lately so it was a little bouncy and it makes the game a little difficult for us," Donovan said." The first half was excellent the way we approached the game and got the goal. The second half was just a grind, it wasn't pretty. We didn't play great but looks like a playoff game, basically. Not the most entertaining game but I thought we did a lot.

"Every time you face a team that you played before, one of two things happen, you have had success and you continue or you haven't had success and you have to make adjustments. We made a few good adjustments that helped us stretch them. We hadn't stretched their back line in the first three games and we made things a lot more difficult for them."

SD Loyal made it difficult by putting pressure on the Tacoma defense and controlling possession for most of the first half. Donovan's squad came out attacking early. Alejandro Guido nearly scored with a point-blank shot blocked by Richey at his line. The blocked shot came back to Guido who tried again but it was blocked once more and the ball popped up to Augustine Williams. His shot was also blocked to end the flurry of shots in the fourth minute.

SD Loyal tried again but this time attacking from the flanks as Douglas Martinez tried a low rolling cross from left to right, looking for Williams in the far post. But Richey, the goalkeeper, was there to dive and intercept the ball.

The pressure kept going. Collin Martin had a shot from outside the penalty box, low-roller, but it was also saved by Richey at his line diving to his right. And then came the corner kick that resulted in Yaro's score.

Yaro was again an integral part of SD Loyal's fourth shutout of the season with Austin Guerrero at goal. Yaro, who has anchored the back line at the center back position, was quick to respond when needed along with Grant Stoneman, Elijah Martin and Miguel Ibarra, the right back.

"Austin didn't have a ton to do and when he did, he was great but I thought the backline was fantastic," Donovan said. "Guys made plays when they needed to."

As for Yaro's perhaps not receiving enough praise league-wide, Donovan had only praise for the defender.

"He doesn't fly under the radar with us," Donovan said. "He's been terrific all year. He had a bad game in Phoenix in his first game with us when he didn't really know us. He knows that. And since then he's been excellent. His response to that day and he way he has handled himself it's been fantastic. We're extremely happy with him and I'm happy he got the goal. He had a great game. He was the man of the match."

SD Loyal will now head on the road for a pair of matches this upcoming week. It will travel to face Oakland Roots Wednesday Sept. 22 and Las Vegas Lights Sept. 25 at Las Vegas Lights.

SCORING

1-0: SD (31') Josh Yaro (Assist: Charlie Adams)

LINEUPS:

SD Loyal -1. Austin Guerrero, 14. Josh Yaro, 24. Miguel Ibarra, 5. Grant Stoneman, 3. Elijah Martin, 11. Tumi Moshobane (65'- Corey Hertzog), 17. Collin Martin, 10. Alejandro Guido, 6. Charlie Adams, 26. Augustine Williams, 27. Douglas Martinez. Coach: Landon Donovan.

Tacoma Defiance -18. Spener Richey, 97. Juan Alvarez (, 81. Randy Mendoza, 41. Cody Baker, 72. Eric Kinzner, 74. Taylor Mueller, 73. Obed Vargas, 88. Carlos Anguiano, 95. Jackson Ragen, 45. Ethan Dobbelaere (56'- 80. Ray Serrano), 32. Alec Diaz (56' -Samuel Adeniran). Coach: Wade Webber

Check out the San Diego Loyal Statistics



United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 19, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Diego Loyal Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central