SD Loyal Finishes Regular Season with 2-0 Win at Las Vegas Lights FC
October 15, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release
LAS VEGAS - San Diego Loyal finished its final regular season match with a 2-0 win against host Las Vegas Lights FC Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark. Tumi Moshobane and Adrien Perez scored in the USL Championship match to end the club's fourth and final regular season with a third-place finish in the Western Conference standings.
The win helped SD Loyal to three more points as it finished the 2023 regular season campaign with a 16W-9L-9D record and 57 points. SD Loyal will face No. 6 Phoenix Rising FC in a first round playoff match on Sunday, Oct. 22 (7 p.m.) at Torero Stadium. Tickets to that match are on sale now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
The Western Conference Quarterfinal will be SD Loyal's third-straight postseason appearance and second-straight at Torero Stadium. The club secured its home playoff match last week after defeating Oakland Roots SC 4-2 at home.
Against Las Vegas, it was Moshobane opening the scoring of a match that had a tightly contested first half. SD Loyal created a handful of scoring chances by Evan Conway and Ronaldo Damus, but it was the South African who finally found the net for Head Coach Nate Miller's team in the 56th minute. The elusive striker put back a low-rolling shot by Collin Martin that was blocked by Las Vegas goalkeeper Andre Zuluaga. Moshobane got the rebound and tapped it in with his left foot for his eighth goal of the season to give SD Loyal a 1-0 lead.
In the second half, Perez found the net for the 10th time this season with a right-footed shot in the 85th minute. The midfielder dripped up the right flank and slotted his shot to secure the win.
Koke Vegas finished with another shutout, his eighth of the season. The SD Loyal goalkeeper had several key saves against Las Vegas, including one in which he was forced to dive to block a shot by Tyler Bagley in the 35th minute.
SD Loyal returns home for next week's postseason match against Phoenix Rising FC on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sdloyal.com/playoffs.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SD - Tumi Moshobane, 56th minute: Moshobane put back a blocked shot inside the penalty box to open the score. LV 0, SD 1
SD - Adrien Perez, 85th minute: Perez sent in a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty box to seal the win. LV 0, SD 2
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Tumi Moshobane scored his eighth goal of the season.
Adrien Perez scored his 10th goal of the season.
Koke Vegas finished the 2023 season with 2790 minutes played, surpassing his own single season minutes record (2712) from 2022.
Palomar Health Man of the Match: Tumi Moshobane
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