FORMER LOYAL STRIKER MAKES OLD TEAM PAY

A fast start and several excellent first-half scoring opportunities had the home crowd feeling good.

A pair of second-half goals scored by a former San Diego Loyal striker changed that vibe emphatically.

That’s the story for the San Diego Loyal following a 3-1 loss to Orange County SC Saturday night at Torero Stadium.

A fantastic goal from Evan Conway that was made possible by a pair of nice passes was the brightest Loyal highlight on a night that saw former striker Thomas Amang net a pair of second-half goals in his first game back at Torero Stadium as an opposing player.

The Loyal (9-6-6) could not extend their recent winning streak to four games and will continue a five-game homestand Wednesday night against Loudon United.

“The quick turnaround is a good thing,” Conway said. “Get right back into training then be ready for the next one. Not much time to overthink this one.”

Orange County (10-9-4) has won four straight, seven of nine overall and avenged a 2-1 home loss to San Diego in May.

The Loyal looked sharp in their new “Pride and Joy” alternate uniforms — unveiled as the club celebrated “Pride Night” — and they played sharp from the very start of the game, repeatedly gaining and maintaining possession through the opening several minutes.

Conway scored in the eighth minute when he capped a sequence that began with goalkeeper Koke Vegas lacing a long pass that was redirected on a header by Adrien Perez to the onrushing Conway.

Conway used a deft dribble move to cut inside while shaking free from Orange County defender Owen Lambe and then ripped a left-footed shot that beat keeper Colin Shutler into the lower far corner for his ninth goal of the season.

Perez was credited with the assist as his header found Conway in the perfect position to attack, but Vegas also deserved some credit for his touch on the pass that found Perez just past midfield.

That goal will surely be a part of any USL highlight packages and may be the most impressive of Conway’s pro career.

San Diego nearly scored again in the 14th minute when Joe Corona’s attempt at a header from inside the goal box was stopped by the quick-reacting Shutler.

Perez and Tumi Mashobane also had dangerous scoring attempts in the first half but were stopped by

Shutler.

Amang equalized in the 52nd minute when he onetimed a shot off a nice feed from Brian Iloski from just outside of the box.

Amang, who scored 11 goals for the Loyal last season, put the visitors ahead in the 78th minute when he pounced on a ball that sprung free in the goal area and beat Vegas with a rightfooted blast.

The 25-year-old native of Cameroon now has five goals on the season.

“When Thomas is motivated to be a great player, he can be a great player,” Loyal coach Nate Miller said. “Obviously, he was motivated tonight.”

San Diego aggressively pushed for a game-tying goal in the final minutes and appeared to possibly earn a penalty kick when striker Ronaldo Damus was contacted in the box but on a night when eight yellow cards were issued, the referee did not call a penalty.

Orange County put the game away on Korede Osundina’s breakaway goal in the 95th minute.

San Diego finished with a 53 percent to 47 percent edge in possession time but Orange finished with an 11-10 advantage in shots created.

The result leapfrogged Orange County over San Diego into fourth place in the Western Conference, a key factor considering that the top four finishers in each conference are guaranteed at least one home playoff game.