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USL San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC Defeats Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-0

March 24, 2024 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio FC picked up its first win of the season Saturday, shutting down Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 2-0 at Toyota Field.

Both teams traded shots during a defensively sound first half, with neither side able to find an opener.

Lucas Silva broke through the deadlock in the 75th minute, picking up a ball from Hugo Mbongue and finding the low corner to put SAFC up 1-0. Mbongue added to his productive debut in stoppage time, providing some extra insurance with a goal to seal the 2-0 victory for San Antonio.

Next Up

San Antonio FC stays home to face Monterey Bay F.C. Saturday, March 30. Kickoff from Toyota Field is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+. The 2024 season is presented by Toyota.

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: Lucas Silva (Assisted by Hugo Mbongue) 75'

SAFC: Hugo Mbongue (Assisted by Juan Agudelo) 90+1'

Postgame Notes:

SAFC moves to 1-0-2 on the season with 5 points, tied for the most in the Western Conference.

San Antonio continues its dominance over Colorado Springs at Toyota Field, now 7-0-2 all-time against the visitors with seven straight shutouts at home. In the all-time series, SAFC has only conceded four goals to Colorado at Toyota Field.

SAFC has scored two goals in each of its three games this season. With six goals, the club is tied in the early lead for most in USL Championship.

Lucas Silva is the first SAFC player to net multiple goals in 2024. Silva scored San Antonio's first goal in the home opener against Loudoun United.

Hugo Mbongue becomes the fourth player to score in his San Antonio debut after Juan Agudelo, Lucas Silva and Bura Nogueira. Mbongue joined the club on loan from Toronto FC at the beginning of the month.

With his 101st appearance across all competitions, Mitchell Taintor is now tied for third in all-time appearances for the club.

Pablo Sisniega and the defense posted the team's first clean sheet of the season.

Attendance: 6,138

SAFC Starting XI: Pablo Sisniega, Carter Manley, Kendall Burks, Mitchell Taintor (captain), Luke Haakenson, Kevon Lambert, Mohamed Omar (Mohammed Abu 63'), Lucas Silva, Jorge Hernandez, Kameron Lacey (Hugo Mbongue 68'), Juan Agudelo

Substitutions Not Used: Kendall McIntosh, Trova Boni, Richard Windbichler, Jose Mulato, Eduardo Fernandez, Gio Padilla

Disciplinary Summary:

SAFC: Yellow Card (Mitchell Taintor) 3'

SAFC: Yellow Card (Mohamed Omar) 26'

COS: Yellow Card (Juan Tejada) 62'

SAFC: Yellow Card (Jorge Hernandez) 64'

SAFC: Yellow Card (Loucas Silva) 84'

COS: Yellow Card (Devon Williams) 88'

COS: Yellow Card (Maalique Foster) 90+2'

Quotes:

Head Coach Alen Marcina

(On the team's performance...)

"I commend our players assertiveness and aggression both with and without the ball and to sustain that for 90-plus minutes. It was great to see. I'm also extremely proud of the players for understanding that they require some patience this game with Colorado sitting back. It could easily because we had so much time on the ball, you know, get impatient, start forcing things. We didn't, so that's shows a lot of maturity from the players. We also challenge the players that the first couple of games in that final third, we need to be better, and this game we created 18 shots versus their nine or 10, so a big improvement and then again, the guys entering the game, our subs, we asked them to be game-changers, to bring the energy, bring intensity and they did and this is back-to-back games we saw that."

(On the team's first clean sheet...)

"It's good. They earned it, and they deserved it. Again, our pressing actions have been very, very good. We mentioned about some of their key players, and (Ronaldo) Damus and (Maalique) Foster are extremely dangerous, some of the best attacking players in this league, and we did well to manage them. Those aren't easy players to manage, so all-in-all proud.

Goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega

(On getting the first shutout...)

"I think defensively we were well-organized. I think we played a very strong game. We limited their chances. I think we outshot them which speaks highly of the whole team. I think we have to just keep building on his performance. It's the first clean sheet of the season, but I think that we have an opportunity to get a lot this season, so let's just hope that we can keep playing like this, keep playing for the fans, and we'll have a great season."

(On the team's improvement from week one...)

"I think it shows a lot of maturity as a team when we were able to get that second goal tonight and close it out. The first game where they were playing with 10 men, and we had opportunities to finish off the game, we didn't take them. Here, when we're up a goal, we got that second goal which kind of killed the game off, and I think it's very important to do that when it's these tight games playing against good teams. To get that second goal to kill off a game just shows that we're a growing team and a mature team."

Forward Hugo Mbongue

(On making an immediate impact in his first match...)

"I just know that I need to get acclimated quickly, just be ready to come on. I knew that I was going to come on. Just being ready, staying ready and taking my opportunity when I get it."

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from March 24, 2024


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