SEASIDE, Calif. — San Antonio FC stayed perfect on the young season with a 2-1 victory over Monterey Bay F.C. at Cardinale Stadium on Saturday night.
The victory keeps SAFC perfect on the 2023 season and extends their unbeaten streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team, the resilience. It’s not easy, you know, with how few players we have available. And then we start the game great, Niko [Hansen] scored a beautiful goal and then goes down a few minutes later,” SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina said. “Well earned, well deserved three points on the road.”
San Antonio opened the scoring early when Connor Maloney found Hansen for a goal just eight minutes into the match. The strike would be Hansen’s second of the season but he would exit the match later with an injury.
SAFC took their 1-0 lead into the second half but the home side would even the match in the 63rd minute off a strike from Sam Gleadle, leveling the match at 1-1.
Zico Bailey was subbed on for the injured Hansen and he made the most of his team by helping the roadside get the win.
Bailey put home a strike from just inside the box off the assist from Maloney in the 83rd minute, putting SAFC up 2-1.
“It’s really just … being ready when you’re called upon, just try to do your best and bring energy to the game, and really just be ready when you’re called upon – it’s really that simple,” Bailey said of his goal.
The win for San Antonio comes with the team dealing with injuries and beginning U.S. Open Cup play in just a few days.
“That type of win is a playoff-type win,” SAFC goalkeeper Jordan Farr said. “That low on numbers, guys battling not only with physical but the mental side, but also with travel yesterday that didn’t really go our way. We had a chance to make excuses but we didn’t. At the end of the day the boys grinded and showed … the spirit of our team.”
UP NEXT:
San Antonio FC is now 3-0-1 (10 points) on the season and will return to the pitch on Tuesday to open U.S. Open Cup play against Club de Lyon FC at 7:30 p.m.
