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USL San Diego Loyal

Flurry of Second Half Goals Leads SD Loyal to 5-1 Win against Las Vegas Lights

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


San Diego -Jack Blake tried over and over Wednesday night. The San Diego Loyal SC midfielder had a handful of scoring attempts, but he was just off the mark.

Wide right. High over the crossbar. Blocked by a defender. Blocked by the goalkeeper. Wide left. That was the list of some of his shots. It took some patience for Blake and some help from fellow midfielder Miguel Ibarra to finally convert an attempt and help spark SD Loyal to a 5-1 win against visiting Las Vegas Lights FC. The Englishman was at the right spot to tap in a cross from Ibarra to break a 1-1 tie and open the gates for a flurry of second half goals in the Week 18 Pacific Division match at Torero Stadium at USD.

Blake took a low-rolling cross from Ibarra right over the six-yard box in the 71st minute. He stood unmarked and tapped it in for his fifth goal of the season. Ibarra then helped set up SD Loyal's next score a minute later. He fed Tumi Moshobane down the left-flank, finding the South African in stride. Moshobane then beat his defender and fired a left-footed shot past Las Vegas Lights' goalkeeper Alex Rando for a 3-1 lead.

It didn't take long for Moshobane to score again. He sent in his second goal of the night in the 84th minute. This time, it was Corey Hertzog feeding the speedy midfielder from the right side of the penalty area. Moshobane took the ball and angled the ball into the Las Vegas net with a left-footed blast. It was his second score of the night and his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

"The whole team deserved this. We all left everything on the field," Moshobane said. "We just fought for each other and the club. It's been a tough couple of games with us playing well but the results not coming our way. Today, it shows our work is paying off."

SD Loyal (7-7-3, 27 points) kept working. It led 4-1, but the scoring didn't end there.

Academy contract player CJ Fodrey scored his first professional goal in the 88th minute after coming on as a substitute three minutes before. Hertzog added an assist by crossing a ball from right to left, finding Fodrey fighting off his defender. He won. Fired with his left foot and found the net to close out the scoring.

"It felt like I was going in slow motion, it all just kind of happened," Fodrey said. "I got a yellow (card) for taking off my shirt, but I don't care. It's the best yellow I've ever gotten. It's one of the best moments of my life. I will never forget that."

SD Loyal fans might not forget Wednesday night. The result is the most goals ever scored by SD Loyal and it is the largest margin of victory for the club. The flurry of goals came after coach Landon Donovan was forced to make substitutions with injuries to defender Grant Stoneman and midfielder Alejandro Guido in the first half. The team struggled to convert chances after taking a 1-0 lead with a 2nd minute goal by Ibarra, the man of the match on a night that also included his two assists late in the game. Las Vegas tied the match with a Cal Jennings goal in the 42nd minute.

SD Loyal struggled to covert its chances after that. Blake had the clearest opportunities but couldn't find the net. Not until Ibarra found him open to break the tie and open up the flood of goals.

"I always tell you guys we separate performance from the goals," Donovan said. "To be honest, in a lot of ways the performance wasn't great for us. It wasn't how we wanted to play. But the positive is, we hit the net a bunch of times. I am happy with that and we made the plays in the end that get you the results."

The result gives SD Loyal three more points in the standings moving into third place after the midweek match. SD Loyal closes out a four-game homestand with a match against Orange County SC Saturday Aug. 21 in a Pacific Division showdown.

SCORING

SD: 1-0 (2') Miguel Ibarra (Assist: Corey Hertzog)

LV: 1-1 (42') Cal Jennings (Assist: Danny Musovski)

SD: 2-1 (71') Jack Blake (Assist: Miguel Ibarra)

SD: 3-1 (72') Tumi Moshobane (Assist: Miguel Ibarra)

SD: 4-1 (84') Tumi Moshobane (Assist: Corey Hertzog)

SD: 5-1 (88') CJ Fodrey (Assist: Corey Hertzog)

LINEUP:

SD Loyal -1. Austin Guerrero, 14. Josh Yaro, 19. Oliver Larraz, 41. Ian Mai, 5. Grant Stoneman (30'- 3. Elijah Martin), 10. Alejandro Guido (46'- 11. Tumi Moshobane), 42. Haji Abdikadir (46' -2. Morgan Hackworth), 24. Miguel Ibarra (85' -40. CJ Fodrey), 6. Charlie Adams, 7. Jack Blake (81'- 31. Chase Boone), 21. Corey Hertzog. Coach: Landon Donovan.

Las Vegas Lights FC: 35. Alex Rando, 17. Michael Yeboah, 28. Tony Elone, 27. Armando Avila, 24. Alvaro Quezada, 20. Frank Daroma, 6. Nathan Sepulveda, 19. Bryce Duke, 26. Cal Jennings, 16. Danny Musovski (58'- 21. Christian Torres), 11. Robert Molina (46'- 7. Bruce El-mesmari). Coach: Steve Cherundolo

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