USL San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC Draws Rio Grande Valley FC 0-0, Wins Copa Tejas

August 31, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


EDINBURG, Texas - San Antonio FC drew Rio Grande Valley FC 0-0 tonight to move to 13-4-10 (49 points) and secure the club's second-straight Copa Tejas title. The supporter-created trophy is awarded to the team with the most points in head-to-head matchups between SAFC, El Paso Locomotive FC and RGV FC.

SAFC won the trophy behind the team's third-straight clean sheet, and fourth in the last five matches. San Antonio has now gone 349-straight minutes without allowing a goal, and has shut out the opponent in four of the last five matches.

The San Antonio defense stifled RGV's attack, blocking four shots and allowing none on target.

The draw moves the team's unbeaten run to seven matches, finishing the month of August with a 3-0-3 record.

SAFC now boasts 49 points on the season, leading the USL Championship Western Conference.

Next Up

San Antonio FC is on the road again Sunday, taking on FC Tulsa. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. CT, with the match broadcast on ESPN+.

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC moves to 13-4-10 (49 points) on the season.

SAFC wins the Copa Tejas for the second-straight year, the first club to ever do so in either MLS or the USL Championship.

San Antonio finishes the 2023 regular season unbeaten against Copa Tejas team (2-0-2).

SAFC rises to first in the Western Conference with 49 points to move ahead of Sacramento (48 points).

San Antonio FC is now unbeaten in seven straight matches (4-0-3).

SAFC three-straight shutouts for the first time this season.

The San Antonio defense has now gone 349 minutes without allowing a goal.

SAFC finishes the month of August with a 3-0-3 record and four shutouts.

Statistics

Full individual and team stats from the match can be found here.

Media assets

Game highlights, interviews and photos can be found here.

Attendance: 2,731

Quotes:

Head Coach Alen Marcina

(On the draw...)

"I'm very happy that we became, first time in history, back-to-back Copa Tejas champions. This was an important cup for us, created by the fans. We owe everything to our fans, so we put our best foot forward and we found a way to get the job done. Obviously we wanted more than a tie but sometimes it's just about finding ways to get the job done. Win our first cup this year, it's a great feeling. Currently put ourselves in first place in the Western Conference, so all in all pleased."

(On the team's four shutouts in the last five matches...)

"I think the focus has been there from the start to the finish. We were leaking, early part of the season and middle part of the season, on individual errors not due to lack of talent but lack of focus in a critical moment. And we haven't been making those same errors as of late, so I'm proud of the guys to keep a clean sheet, three in a row, now we've got to start putting some more goals in the back of the net and we'll be peaking at the right time."

Goalkeeper Jordan Farr

(On the draw...)

"Another defensive performance, from top to bottom. No shots on target allowed, a couple of difficult moments that the defense really dealt with well, I think everyone was stepping to their man as they drew in. Middle of the field was kind of where the battle was and I think Jacori [Hayes], Rida [Zouhir] and Jorge [Hernandez] did an excellent job of plugging it up defensively, and then offensively I think we created a ton of chances but it just hasn't been falling for us. The point we're trying to make is staying positive while continuing to be really good defensively."

(On the strong defensive run of form...)

"Focus on the details. Focus on set pieces, making sure that in transition we're really solid. I think our transition defending was excellent today. They have quick forwards and a quick release on the keeper whenever he got the ball, which he did quite a bit on our set pieces. I think defensively everyone played a roll. In these types of performances it's always about everyone doing their job."

(On winning Copa Tejas for the second-straight year...)

"I didn't realize that we were the first team in history do that. So that's a huge thing for us, some guys it's their first trophy. So it's a huge momentum builder and we want to make sure we're building on it and not just accepting the performance, and asking more of ourselves. Even though ... ultimately we did win a trophy, we still expect way more because we want championships on championships. So for us, we'll take the positives, and also understand that we want to perform even better in the future."

Defender Mitchell Taintor

(On the draw...)

"I thought we created some good chances. Didn't put them away, obviously, but we created some good scoring opportunities and I think defensively we were solid again, that's our third shutout in a row so I'm proud of our defensive effort, but there's things that we need to clean up to keep pushing forward as a team."

(On the strong defensive run of form...)

"I think the whole team is playing well. And I think that really helps the defense. When everyone's putting in the work it makes our job easier - I think everyone's communicating really well, everyone's understanding the movements, so I think it's starting to click for us. Which is a really good feeling, especially being a defender."

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 31, 2023


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