SD Loyal Advances to U.S. Open Cup Third Round After 2-0 Win vs. Albion San Diego

April 5, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release

San Diego Loyal SC's Duran Ferree celebrates win
(San Diego Loyal, Credit: San Diego Loyal SC and U.S. Soccer)

Charlie Adams and Evan Conway scored for SD Loyal in the Second Round match of the historic national tournament pairing teams from all levels of play in the country. Head Coach Nate Miller's team earned its second win in the competition against Albion of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). SD Loyal will now await its next opponent as U.S. Soccer will hold a draw for Third Round pairings tomorrow afternoon. SD Loyal reached the Third Round in 2022 after beating Albion 2-1 last year, ultimately losing on the road to Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy.

In front of a packed and loud crowd Wednesday night against Albion, SD Loyal opened up the scoring with Adams' goal. The team captain converted a penalty kick to the lower right corner of the Albion net in the 25th minute for the 1-0 lead. Midfielder Xavi Gnaulati was taken down from behind by Albion's Ernest Mitchell in the area as the 18-year-old Loyal Select product made a run towards goal, prompting a whistle to earn the penalty kick.

Conway extended the SD Loyal lead in the 52nd minute with a shot near the Albion goal line. Conway closed in on a cross by Adrien Perez who sped up the left flank off a pin-point pass by Gnaulati. Conway hit it in with his left foot past Albion goalkeeper Benjamin Roach for the 2-0 lead and his second U.S. Open Cup goal with SD Loyal.

Teenagers Gnaulati (18), defender Jackson Simba (19) and goalkeeper Duran Ferree (16) made the start for SD Loyal. Duran, an Under-17 U.S. National Team member, made a handful of saves while keeping the shutout.

SD Loyal returns to USL Championship play at Torero Stadium Saturday, April 8 (2 p.m.), when it hosts Eastern Conference foe FC Tulsa. Tickets start at just $15 and are available now at sdloyal.com/tickets.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

SD - Charlie Adams, 25th minute: Adams converted a penalty kick to the lower right corner of the Albion net. SD 1, ALB 0

SD - Evan Conway (Adrien Perez), 52nd minute: Conway sent in a Perez cross from left to right for the second goal of the night. SD 2, ALB 0

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Evan Conway scored his second U.S. Open Cup goal with SD Loyal.

SD Loyal started three teenagers: Duran Ferree (16), Xavi Gnaulati (18) and Jackson Simba (19).

Duran Ferree made his first U.S. Open Cup appearance and finished with a shutout.

-SAN DIEGO LOYAL SC MATCH REPORT-

Match: San Diego Loyal SC vs. Albion San Diego

Date: April 5, 2023

Competition: USL Championship

Venue: SDSU Sports Deck; San Diego, Calif.

Kickoff: 7 p.m. PT

Weather: 58 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

San Diego Loyal SC 1 1 2

Albion San Diego 0 0 0

Goal Minute

SD - Charlie Adams (Penalty) 25

SD - Evan Conway (Adrien Perez) 52

LINEUPS

San Diego Loyal SC: 60-Duran Ferree; 13-Camden Riley, 5-Grant Stoneman (32-Kyle Adams, 46), 16-Jackson Simba; 2-Morgan Hackworth, 11-Tumi Moshobane, 6-Charlie Adams (Capt.) (3-Elijah Martin, 46), 50-Xavi Gnaulati, 47-Adrien Perez (7-Blake Bodily, 80); 9-Evan Conway (8-Ronaldo Damus, 69), 18-Elliot Collier (20-Nick Moon, 69)

Substitutes not used: 1-Koke Vegas, 17-Collin Martin

Manager: Nate Miller

Albion San Diego: 1-Benjamin Roach; 2-Gabriel Robinson, 4-Ernest Mitchell, 5-Anthony Patti, 13-Tyler Gabarra (Capt.); 11-Shinya Kadono, 17-Corey Lundeen (14-Mateo Hincapie, 60), 10-Daniel Bedoya, 6-Andrew Kleszewski (22-Nuukele Gboe, 70), 7-Jonathan Bazaez; 9-Cyrus Tran (15-Misael Mendoza, 70)

Substitutes not used: 12-Sebastian Szydlo, 18-Lennyn Carreon, 20-Christopher Bourdon, 21-Julian Garcia, 24-Ryan Buckingham

Manager: Diego Gomez

Misconduct Summary Minute

ALB - Ernest Mitchell (Caution) 24

SD - Evan Conway (Caution) 28

SD - Camden Riley (Caution) 32

ALB - Nuukele Gboe (Caution) 74

ALB - Anthony Paltti (Caution) 90+1

San Diego Loyal SC's Duran Ferree celebrates win (San Diego Loyal SC and U.S. Soccer)

• Discuss this story on the United Soccer League Championship message board...

United Soccer League Championship Stories from April 5, 2023

• Next Wave Powers OCSC to Five Star Open Cup Win Over Capo FC - Orange County SC
• OCSC Defeats Capo FC 5-0 in Round 2 Open Cup Match - Orange County SC
• SD Loyal Advances to U.S. Open Cup Third Round After 2-0 Win vs. Albion San Diego - San Diego Loyal
• Rising Advances to Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup with 1-0 Win vs. Greenville - Phoenix Rising FC
• Colorado Springs Falls to Northern Colorado in 2nd Round of U.S. Open Cup - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
• Monterey Bay F.C. Douses Central Valley Fuego FC with 3-1 Victory in the Second Round of U.S. Open Cup - Monterey Bay FC
• Sacramento Republic FC Edges Crossfire - Sacramento Republic FC
• Lights FC Advances to the Third Round of the US Open Cup - Las Vegas Lights FC
• Three Solomon Asante Assists Spark Comeback, Added Extra Time Victory in Second Round Affair at Carroll Stadium - Indy Eleven
• Totsch's Header Wins It for LouCity in Open Cup Clash with Lexington SC - Louisville City FC
• RGV FC Eliminated from U.S Open Cup - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
• Weather Delays Indy Eleven's U.S. Open Cup Match Until 8:00 p.m. ET - Indy Eleven
• Vargish's View: Switchbacks Take on Hailstorm F.C in Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
• Hounds Seal Deal with Defender Osumanu - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Riverhounds Seal Deal with Defender Osumanu - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
• Miami FC Secures Well-Deserved Victory Against Jacksonville Armada in Open Cup Second Round - Miami FC
• Game Day: LouCity vs. Lexington SC - Louisville City FC

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent San Diego Loyal Stories

• SD Loyal Playoff Match to Broadcast Locally on the CW San Diego
• Adrien Perez Earns Spot on USL Championship Team of the Week
• SD Loyal Finishes Regular Season with 2-0 Win at Las Vegas Lights FC
• Playoffs
• SD Loyal Earns Point on the Road Against El Paso Locomotive FC