USL San Diego Loyal

Three Points for SD Loyal on the Road in 3-1 Win against Sacramento Republic

Published on August 29, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


Sacramento, CA - Landon Donovan was blunt. The San Diego Loyal Soccer Club manager wanted more goals. His team was creating scoring chances but could not find the net in previous matches.

That change was visible Saturday night as a handful of recent roster changes by Donovan and the front office began to pay off. SD Loyal saw a pair of its newcomers lead the team to a 3-1 win against host Sacramento Republic at Heart Health Park.

It was 19-year-old Oliver Larraz and nifty striker Augustine Williams who came through with the scoring in the USL Championship match. Larraz scored his first professional goal (3rd minute) while Williams had a brace (23rd and 29th) in his first start with SD Loyal.

Larraz, who is on loan from Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids, found the net early in the match. He opened the scoring when he sent in a deflected a shot off Sacramento Republic defender Dan Casey and over goalkeeper Tomas Gomez. The play began with Corey Hertzog feeding Tumi Moshobane with a through ball from near midfield. Moshobane dribbled up field near the outside of the penalty box, had it deflected off his defender and then Larraz took it into the penalty box.

Williams extended the SD Loyal (9-9-3, 30 points) lead to 2-0 when he buried a low right-footed shot inside the left post, leaving Gomez doing the splits as he looked back at Williams' shot crashing into the net. Gomez got a hand on the header but not enough to keep it out. Hertzog helped set that score with a heel pass into the penalty box from the right side for his second assist of the night.

Williams added another one in the 29th minute when he sent a header from near the goal line off a corner kick by Charlie Adams for the 3-0 lead. Williams, who joined from MLS side LA Galaxy last week on loan, nearly had a third goal in the 53rd minute when he sent a shot off the crossbar as he fell back near the six-yard box.

The first ever visit and win in Sacramento gives SD Loyal three more points in the Pacific Division standings as it tries to remain in playoff position. The win also helps Donovan's team move into second place tie with Orange County SC (30 points) after Tacoma Defiance (27 points) lost to Oakland Roots.

But perhaps more importantly for Donovan and his team, it might have found the ingredients it needed on offense while some starters return from injuries. Adding Larraz and Williams helped.

Both were signed on loan earlier this month as the team needed a spark in its attack. Williams started only in his second match with the club as Donovan wanted to add another true striker. He got one in the 6-foot-2 aggressive player in front of the net. Larraz was put into the starting lineup as a leftback, a position he had never played. But under Donovan and staff, Larraz has been a threat on the flanks, including himself in the attack. He has also been precise on defense, mixing well with the rest of the SD Loyal backline. The defense held its ground in its first ever visit to the capitol, holding the hosts to a lone goal that came via a penalty kick.

"It was great. The start was great," Donovan said about the match. "A big principle for this game was to pressure and getting that early goal, that was huge. Augie (Williams) was fantastic. He did what we brought him here to do which was to scare teams and we have proven that when we scare teams and that we score the goals, we are really hard to beat. All of that came together tonight."

Sacramento scored in the 39th minute when Cameron Iwasa converted the penalty kick. The Sacramento forward beat Austin Guerrero on the penalty kick. SD Loyal's Miguel Ibarra was whistled for a foul from behind just inside the right side of the penalty box. Ibarra argued he didn't foul but referee Gerald Flores made his call.

SD Loyal will now return home to host LA Galaxy II Sept. 5 in a Sunday afternoon match at Torero Stadium at USD.

SCORING

SD: 0-1 (3') Oliver Larraz

SD: 0-2 (23') Augustine Williams (Assist: Corey Hertzog)

SD: 0-3 (29') Augustine Williams (Assist: Charlie Adams)

SD: 1-3 (39') Cameron Iwasa

LINEUPS:

SD Loyal -1. Austin Guerrero, 14. Josh Yaro, 19. Oliver Larraz, 5. Grant Stoneman, 3. Elijah Martin (83'-41. Ian Mai), 11. Tumi Moshobane (83'- 2. Morgan Hackworth), 42. Haji Abdikadir (20'- 10. Alejandro Guido -90+- Gianfranco Facchineri), 24. Miguel Ibarra, 6. Charlie Adams, 26. Augustine Williams, 21. Corey Hertzog. Coach: Landon Donovan.

Sacramento Republic: 27. Tomas Gomez, 2. Shannon Gomez, 5. Dan Casey, 6. Fatai Alashe, 14. Markhus Lacroix, 24. Jaime Villareal, 23. Mario Penagos, 96. Luis Felipe Rodrigues, 10. Dariusz Formella, 9. Kharlton Belmar, 31. Cam Iwasa. Coach: Mark Briggs

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 29, 2021


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