Late goals help SAFC earn first road win
After getting a draw and a loss in its first two road games, San Antonio FC got its first road win of the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 victory at Hartford Athletic.
San Antonio FC (3-1-3, 12 points) scored two goals late in the second half, including an own goal from Hartford in the 78th minute and a penalty kick from Luis Solignac in the 85th minute. It was the first time this season that SAFC scored three goals in a game.
“I’m proud of this team,” San Antonio FC coach Alen Marcina said. “This win is a testament to their relentless effort and mindset. Our focus was on controlling the controllables, and the guys did that.”
SAFC moved back into the top three of the USL Championship Western Conference standings with the win at Hartford. The Athletic (3-2-0, 9 points) fell to fourth in the Eastern Conference.
“We will carry this momentum into our next challenge,” Marcina said, “while maintaining our focus and discipline.”
Two weeks after falling 1-0 in their most recent road game against Las Vegas, San Antonio FC was quick to get going on a windy day at Hartford’s Trinity Health Stadium.
Machop Chol scored for San Antonio FC in the seventh minute when he headed a cross from Lucas Silva into the bottom left corner of the goal.
“I’m very happy,” Chol said. “It’s been a long time for me being out with my injury. I’m just glad San Antonio gave me the opportunity. I’m happy we got the three points and getting on the score sheet is a bonus for me.”
Chol had a chance for a second goal 10 minutes later but his shot in the center of the box was blocked by Hartford.
SAFC had a couple of good chances to go up 2-0 in the first half. Hartford was able to equalize in the 27th minute when former San Antonian Marcus Epps got on the end of a ball from Michee Ngalina and beat both Mitchell Taintor and Pablo Sisniega with a left-footed shot.
The score stood at 1-1 for the next 50 minutes, although San Antonio FC continued to put pressure on the Hartford goal. That pressure paid off in the 78th minute when Shannon Gomez played the ball into the box and it was headed in by Hartford defender Joey Akpunonu for an own-goal to give San Antonio FC a 2-1 lead.
San Antonio FC earned a penalty kick seven minutes later when Kameron Lacey was brought down in the box by Hartford’s Joseph Farrell in the 84th minute. It took a minute for the ref to sort things out and show a yellow card to Farrell for the challenge. Luis Solignac, in his first game of the season after a lengthy injury, stepped up to take the penalty and converted with a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.
“It was fantastic,” Solignac said. “It’s been a long time without playing. Coming into the game and being able to produce a goal to help the team win is amazing. I’m happy because it was a tough game.”
San Antonio FC closes out its road trip next Saturday night in Miami. The next home game for SAFC is May 4 against the Oakland Roots.