Rest helps propel SAFC to dominant win

San Antonio FC coach Darren Powell faced a dilemma nearly two weeks ago. His team, despite injuries and shuffling lineups, appeared finally to have found a groove.

But with 10 days between matches, Powell had to balance giving his players a few days off to recharge and spend time with family against sustaining momentum.

“(Having time off ) sometimes is beneficial in terms of performance,” Powell said. “And sometimes, you may be a little bit rusty.”

Powell went the R&R route. The payoff was easily detected as SAFC not only recharged its mind and body, but perhaps also its mentality and identity.

Cesar Elizondo scored the game-winner moments before halftime and a stingy defense led by goalkeeper Diego Restrepo and defender Cyprian Hedrick took care of the rest as SAFC blanked Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 Saturday in a United Soccer League match before 6,613 at Toyota Field.

The local club moved into eighth place in the Western Conference nearly halfway through the season.

“This was a good win,” Restrepo said. “We were frustrated from the FC Dallas game because we thought we could get a victory there, but we turned the page and tonight was a great team performance against a top-of-the-table team.”

SAFC (5-3-5) did more than just turn a page. It turned back the clock. A year ago, en route to advancing to the Western Conference semifinals, the Alamo City squad relied heavily on defense and opportunistic offense. The formula worked Saturday against third-place Sacramento (8-4-4), avenging a season-opening 2-1 setback on March 17.

Restrepo tied a club record with nine saves — matching the mark first established by MacArthur graduate Matt Cardone vs. Swope Park Rangers on July 30, 2016 — while Hedrick was a force throughout.

“We’re all competitors and we want to step on the field and represent the club and our teammates,” said Hedrick, who started for the first time since October 2017. “It was a pleasure to be on the field with my teammates and to climb and battle. It wasn’t the easiest game, but we did what we needed to do to get the win — and that’s all that really matters.”

The stout defensive effort was paramount on a night in which SAFC conceded 20 corner kicks, but Sacramento was unable to capitalize.

“I lost count at No. 5,” Restrepo said. “Props to the guys, because they did a heck of a job to clear those balls. It wasn’t pretty, but we were able to do it. We got three points.”

SAFC led 1-0 at halftime as Elizondo ran onto a pass from midfielder Ethan Bryant that found him in stride behind the defense and beat Sacramento goalkeeper Josh Cohen by tucking a shot inside the right post in the 43rd minute. It was Elizondo’s first goal of the season.