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USL San Diego Loyal

SD Loyal Earns Another Win at Home, Adds Three More Points

March 19, 2022 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


San Diego - Carlos Saldaña adjusted his gloves after he stood up and stared at his net Saturday night. The Sacramento Republic FC goalkeeper perhaps was trying to decipher what had just transpired.

Saldaña was beat by a blazing ball seconds before that. He was beat by a ball that came off the foot of Charlie Adams. It was the shot that helped seal a San Diego Loyal SC 2-0 win against visiting Sacramento Republic at Torero Stadium at USD.

Adams' goal left Saldaña and his team looking for answers on how to neutralize coach Landon Donovan's club in the Week 2 USL Championship match. SD Loyal continued with its brand of soccer to pressure and try to control possession to make teams tired as the game progresses. Donovan's team did that against Sacramento (1-1-0, 3 points) but it also converted its scoring chances in the first half.

Defender Kyle Adams opened the scoring. He helped give SD Loyal (2-0-0, 6 points) a 1-0 lead when he headed in a ball past Saldaña in the 35th minute. The scoring play came off a set piece designed to get the ball to a charging attacker. That ball went to Nick Moon who got a piece of it and volleyed it to where Kyle Adams was charging the box. The defender got his head on the ball and sent it past Saldaña in his first start with SD Loyal. He also helped his team to the shutout win. He even cleared a dangerous ball out with his head earlier in the match. And it was a homecoming of sorts for the 25-year-old who played his college soccer at San Diego State University from 2015 to 2017. He signed with SD Loyal this off season after spending time at Real Monarchs and Rio Grande Valley FC.

Kyle Adams' goal sent the crowd into a roar, but it was Charlie Adams who sent them into frenzy with the second goal of the night. Charlie Adams extended the SD Loyal lead when he blasted a shot from about 20-yards out. The team captain raced up towards the Sacramento penalty box, sent a zooming left-footed shot, and bent it to the lower left corner of the visitor's net. Saldaña had no chance.

SD Loyal had a handful of chances to score again in the second half. Alejandro Guido sent a low shot that was deflected by Saldaña after he dribbled in and across the penalty box in the 59th minute. Then there was Thomas Amang, a second half sub, who tried his luck from the left side of the penalty box but Saldaña was there to save it at the center of the goal.

Koke Vegas, the newly acquired SD Loyal goalkeeper, had a standout save of his own at his line in the 38th minute. He punched away a one-timer by Sacramento's Jack Gurr from outside the 18-yard box. He sent his blast straight to Vegas who stood at the center of his goal to make the save. He went on to secure the shutout, the first in USL Championship for the Spanish goalkeeper.

Donovan's team earns three more points in the Western Conference standings with the win as it now prepares for its first road trip of the young 2022 season.

SD Loyal travels to Oklahoma to face FC Tulsa for the first time in club history on Wednesday, March 23 at ONEOK Field (5:30 p.m.). Fans can watch the game on The CW San Diego and Azteca America 33. It will then visit Phoenix Rising on Saturday, March 26 on YurView and Azteca America 33. SD Loyal's next home match will be a national broadcast on ESPN Deportes on Sunday, April 3 against El Paso Locomotive at 2 p.m. Tickets are available now starting at just $15.

2022 Season Ticket Memberships, Half Season Ticket Memberships, Quarter Season Ticket Memberships, Flex Plans, Group Tickets and Single Match Tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling (858) 465-GOAL and by visiting sdloyal.com/tickets.

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