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USL San Diego Loyal

SD Loyal Returns for Home Match vs. LA Galaxy II

September 5, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


On Sunday, Sept. 5, San Diego Loyal is back at home as they fight for playoff positioning in the Pacific Division standings. The Week 20 match slated to be broadcasted on Yurview (Cox 4) and be streamed on Yurview and ESPN+. It will also be broadcasted on Azteca America 33 in Spanish.

WHO:

- SD Loyal

- LA Galaxy II

WHEN:

Sunday, Sept. 5

3 p.m. PT

WHERE:

Torero Stadium at USD

5998 Alcala Park

San Diego, CA 92111

MATCH PREVIEW:

It didn't take long for SD Loyal to see the benefits from bringing in reinforcements this far into the season. The club needed help in boosting its attack after not scoring more than two goals in its first 18 games of the season. It exploded with five goals in a win against Las Vegas Lights FC on Aug. 18 but it again couldn't capitalize on scoring chances after that on Aug. 21 against Orange County SC. Manager Landon Donovan and his staff went out to add a handful of players to help. Some of those players showed their quality quickly as striker Augustine Williams and defender Oliver Larraz both scored in a 3-1 win at Sacramento Republic last week. Williams had a brace and Larraz scored his first professional goal.

But perhaps more importantly than the win, it is the way SD Loyal continues to play a fluid brand of soccer, owning possession and now it has begun to convert the scoring chances. Those opportunities could translate into more goals also with the addition of striker Douglas Martinez, who is yet to see action with the team. His loan from MLS side Real Salt Lake is pending league approval. But when Martinez and Williams can be on the pitch together, SD Loyal could have one of the more dangerous attacks. After all, Martinez came to SD Loyal after having scored 19 regular season USL Championship goals the last three seasons. Williams, who came on loan from MLS side LA Galaxy, had scored 13 goals in 16 starts last season with USL Championship club LA Galaxy II. Combine the two new strikers with team-leading scorer Tumi Moshobane, Jack Blake and Corey Hertzog and Donovan has an arsenal of weapons. It will be interesting to see how they will mesh with the rest of the starters, even as some return from injury in the possible near future. Midfielders Collin Martin and Jack Metcalf are both recovering from injuries. One of those injuries is goalkeeper Trey Muse, who has a fractured finger in his right hand. SD Loyal brought in Dylan Castanheira from MLS side Inter Miami FC to help the goalkeeping corps the rest of the season.

SD Loyal could take advantage of home field against LA Galaxy as it heads into the month of September with five matches, two at home. Four of those matches are against teams in the bottom part of the table.

LA Galaxy comes into the match after having to play a midweek game against Sacramento Republic. It was an emotional match for LA Galaxy II as it allowed an 89th minute goal that led to the 3-3 draw against Sacramento Republic. LA Galaxy II led 3-2 with an 85th minute goal by Jorge Hernandez before Cameron Iwasa found the net for Sacramento Republic via a penalty kick. It was the second penalty converted by Iwasa in the match. LA Galaxy II had to settle for a point in the Pacific Division standings.

It comes into this match against SD Loyal with a 6-9-5 record with 23 points, good enough to tie with Sacramento in the points total but good for sixth place. Sacramento is fifth with the tiebreaker. LA Galaxy II, also known as "Los Dos" is 3-2-1 in its last six games, including a loss to SD Loyal at home on Aug, 1.

Preston Judd (20 games played and 17 starts) and Hernandez are a pair of standout players for Los Dos. Judd is coming off scoring a brace against Sacramento. He now has 11 goals this season while Hernandez has nine goals in 20 games played, all of them starts. He also has four assists.

Also at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, it was SD Loyal Select beating El Paso Locomotive Academy 2-0 Saturday. CJ Fodrey (60th minute) and Xavi Gnaulati (90th) scored for the SD Loyal academy team. SD Loyal Select is now 2-0 as it heads into a pair of road matches Sept. 18 and 19 in Tucson, Ariz.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 5, 2021


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.

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