SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio FC (2-1-2) tied RGV FC (3-1-1) 1-1 at Toyota Field on Saturday night. A goal from midfielder Marcus Epps earned the Alamo City club a point in front of another socially distanced sellout crowd.
“We created more than enough opportunities to win that game,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “I don’t know what the count was, but I know it was high. The type of opportunities that we created were high percentage opportunities. We have to be more clinical and put teams away. As a collective we defended really well. That’s soccer. We remain undefeated at home for the last 17 games.”
SAFC opened the scoring just before the halftime break after midfielder Emil Cuello got out of trouble and played a through-ball to Epps, who dribbled in on goal and beat goalkeeper Tyler Deric far-post to gain the lead for the hosts.
The match proved to be a back and forth battle the rest of the way, with SAFC recording 10 shots on target on the night, the second-most in franchise history, while on the other end Deric recorded nine saves on the night—the most by any opposing goalkeeper in a single match in SAFC history.
RGV FC then found the equalizer in the 89th minute when midfielder Juan Azocar found the end of a cross and finished with a bicycle kick to level the score.
With the draw, SAFC extends its unbeaten streak when playing at home to 17 regular season matches. The Alamo City club will return to USL Championship action on Saturday, June 5 as the team visits Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC at Weidner Field at 7pm CT. The match will mark the first of a three-game road stint for San Antonio.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Marcus Epps (Emil Cuello assist) 40’
RGVFC: 1-1, Juan Azocar (Adrian Diz Pe assist) 89’
Disciplinary Summary:
SAFC: Yellow Card (Chris Lema) 34’
RGVFC: Yellow Card (Erik Pimentel) 42’
RGVFC: Yellow Card (John Sanchez) 55’
SAFC: Red Card (Emil Cuello) 80’
RGVFC: Yellow Card (Vincente Sanchez) 90’
Attendance: 3,852 (socially distant)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone; D: Jasser Khmiri, Mathieu Deplagne, Liam Doyle; M: Sam Gleadle, PC (c) (Emil Cuello 12’), Cam Lindley, Marcus Epps (Joaquin Varela 85’), Chris Lema; F: Nathan (Jordan Perruzza 76’), Patino
Substitutions not used: Carlos Mercado, Ollie Wright, Leo Torres, Shandon Hopeau
Postgame Notes:
- With the draw, SAFC is now unbeaten in 17 straight regular season home matches, going 12-0-5 in those games…SAFC is now 43-10-24 all-time at Toyota Field
- SAFC midfielder Marcus Epps scored his second goal for the club to go along with two shots and one key pass…Epps was named the SWBC Man of the Match after recording an 85.7 percent passing accuracy and after winning 60 percent of his duels
- SAFC defender Jasser Khmiri returned to the lineup with an impressive defensive performance…Khmiri recorded two tackles, two clearances, seven interceptions and seven possessions gained…also recorded a 77.4 percent passing accuracy and won 83.3 percent of his duels and 75 percent of his aerial duels
- San Antonio recorded the most shots on target of the season (10) and second most in a single match in club history…SAFC recorded 11 shots on target on 8/10/19 at Reno