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USL San Antonio FC

San Antonio FC Earns 3-3 Draw in Front of Sellout Crowd at Toyota Field

March 9, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Antonio FC News Release


SAN ANTONIO - San Antonio FC (0-0-1) tied Phoenix Rising FC (0-0-1) 3-3 at Toyota Field in their first match of the 2019 USL Championship season on Saturday night. Goals from forward Ever Guzman, midfielder Billy Forbes, and a Phoenix own goal earned the club a point in front of a sellout crowd of 8,058.

"Tonight was very positive from our guys," SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell said. "As a group, our players should take a lot of positives from tonight's performance, and as we continue to improve I think we're going to see some good soccer from these players."

SAFC opened the scoring just nine minutes in when midfielder Lance Laing played a low cross into the box and found Guzman, who slotted it in to score his first of the season and 16th overall for the club, adding to his all-time leading scoring record. The assist marked Laing's seventh overall since joining the club in late August last season.

Phoenix then equalized in the 22nd minute after forward Junior Flemings found the end of a cross and drove it in from close-range past SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone. SAFC re-gained the lead in the 40th minute after Forbes dribbled into space and buried a shot from the top of the box to make it 2-1.

The goal marks Forbes' 11th goal overall for the club after joining the team for his second stint since the 2017 season, while midfielder Pecka recorded his second assist since joining the team prior to the 2017 campaign as well.

The visitors equalized again just three minutes later after finding the end of a cross in the SAFC box, leveling the score just before the halftime break.

SAFC took the lead yet again in the 80th minute after Jahn scored an own goal following a corner kick from Jack Barmby to make it 3-2, however Phoenix found a stoppage-time equalizer through former SAFC forward Jason Johnson in the 93rd minute.

The night's attendance marks the fifth-highest in franchise history for San Antonio FC. The club will return to USL action as they host Portland Timbers 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16 at Toyota Field.

Scoring Summary:

SAFC: 1-0, Ever Guzman (Lance Laing assist) 9'

PRFC: 1-1, Junior Flemmings (Solomon Asante) 22'

SAFC: 2-1, Billy Forbes (Pecka assist) 40'

PRFC: 2-2, Adam Jahn (Junior Flemmings assist) 42'

SAFC: 3-2, Own Goal (Adam Jahn) 80'

PRFC: 3-3, Jason Johnson (Kevon Lambert) 90'

Disciplinary Summary:

PRFC: Yellow Card (Kevon Lambert 33')

SAFC: Yellow Card (Kai Greene 59')

PRFC: Yellow Card (Adam Jahn 61')

PRFC: Yellow Card (Junior Flemmings 75')

PRFC: Yellow Card (Doueugui Mala 78')

PRFC: Yellow Card (Mustapha Dumbuya) 82'

Attendance: 8,058

SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone; D: Kai Greene, Joshua Yaro, Amer Didic, Eby Ackon; M: Pecka (c), Billy Forbes, Cristian Parano (Michael Lahoud 85'), Jack Barmby, Lance Laing; F: Ever Guzman (Bradford Jamieson IV 69')

Substitutions Not Used: Jonathan Viscosi, Pascal Eboussi, Johnny Fenwick, Leeroy Maguraushe, Walter Restrepo

Postgame Notes:

San Antonio FC earned a draw with Phoenix Rising FC in the club's 2019 home opener...SAFC is now 2-0-2 all-time in home openers and 2-1-1 all-time in their first contest of a USL Championship season

San Antonio FC improves to 4-2-2 against Phoenix Rising all-time and 3-0-2 against the Arizona side in San Antonio

For the fourth consecutive season, SAFC earned a sellout at Toyota Field in the club's home opener...the attendance of 8,058 is the fifth-highest attendance in San Antonio FC history and the most since 9/23/17 vs. RGV FC when the club drew 8,125 fans

SAFC forward Ever Guzman scored his first goal of the season and his 16th of his SAFC career...Guzman's 16 goals continue to top the all-time charts for San Antonio FC players

San Antonio FC midfielder Billy Forbes scored his 11th all-time goal for the club and first of the season...Forbes returned to SAFC following his time with the Phoenix Rising during the 2018 season...Forbes' 11 goals for the club tie Rafa Castillo for the second most all-time

SAFC midfielders Lance Laing and Pecka collected their first assists of the season against Phoenix...Pecka's tally gives him two all-time in SAFC colors while Laing has now recorded seven for the club and has the most for SAFC since the start of the 2018 season

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