Game Information and Match Notes - vs. Birmingham Legion FC
June 30, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release
At a glance...
Defend 210: San Antonio's defense has been elite at home, allowing just 20 goals in 27 matches with 13 shutouts dating back to last season. SAFC is on a 26-match unbeaten streak at Toyota Field, going 16-0-10 with a +33 goal differential and 12 shutouts since the last loss over a year ago on April 2, 2022.
The Ones Who Hate to Lose: Under head coach Alen Marcina, SAFC is 12-1-4 in the first match back after a loss. The lone set of consecutive losses came in 2020, with SAFC going 11-0-4 since with a +16 goal differential. Last season, SAFC was 5-0-0 after a loss, with two shutouts and a +7 goal differential.
Attack Together: Forward Ignacio Bailone is second on the team with four goals this season, three of which have come after entering as a substitute.
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What they had to say:
Head Coach Alen Marcina (On the impact of being the reigning champions...) "We have to be ultra-aggressive, we know that every opponent that we play, this is their match of the year. This is a fact, when you are the reigning champions everybody's bringing their A game against you, so sometimes, it's more than just tactics, it's about the intensity, the aggressiveness, the grit and it has to be more, more of it. We've been very good, don't get me wrong on those perspectives, but we still have to give more. I tell the players this is an absolute privilege as well, that we're getting everybody's best game, A game. You know, as the leader, I want to lead a group of great young men into battle and going against the best and getting everybody's best so it challenges us in different ways. So this year it's a different challenge, we're learning each game."
(On goalkeeper Carlos Mercado's growth since 2021...) "The benefits is Carlos has been with us multiple years, he knows what the expectations are, what the standards are, what our game model is. I think for any player to really see the best, you need a consistent amount of games as well. So, we don't want to put everything and all the pressure on Carlos- I don't think that's fair. Any goalkeeper, field player, you need games, you need repetition in games to really get at your best. So it's not a difficult situation for him to be in, but he has the confidence of the staff, of his teammates, and he's got to go in confident himself."
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USL Championship Match #17 - San Antonio FC vs. Birmingham Legion FC
Date: Saturday, July 1, 2023
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. CT Stadium: Toyota Field, San Antonio, Texas
Where to Watch: ESPN+, Bally Sports Southwest
San Antonio FC: 6-3-7 (25 pts; 4th in Western Conference)
Birmingham Legion FC: 7-7-1 (22 pts; 6th in Eastern Conference)
All-time Series: SAFC leads the all-time series 1-0-0, winning 2-1 last season at Birmingham.
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