Monterey Bay Runs Away with 4-1 Win Over Loudoun United FC at Cardinale Stadium
SEASIDE, California (Saturday, June 3, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (4-4-5, 17 points) defeated Loudoun United FC (3-9-1, 10 points) 4-1 at Cardinale Stadium, presented by Monterey Peninsula Smiles. Sam Gleadle scored the opening goal for the Crisp and Kelp added an assist, Christian Volesky added a goal and an assist of his own, Chase Boone bagged the game-winner with a goal from distance, and Alex Dixon capped off the night with a fourth.
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The first chance of the match for Monterey Bay came 12 minutes in after a dominating possession to start the match. Ugo Okoli completed a run deep into the right side of the box before looping it into the six-yard box towards Volesky, but the ensuing header missed just over the crossbar. 10 minutes later, Boone found himself trapped by three defenders inside the box before managing to lay it off to Gleadle making a run into the box, but his shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper and saved. Monterey Bay scored the opening goal in the 33rd minute following a scramble in the box that started with a looping, over-the-back chip shot by Okoli that forced the goalkeeper into a save. The ball then landed at the feet of Volesky, who immediately laid it off to Gleadle for the finish into the bottom left corner to give the Union the 1-0 lead. Loudoun United FC equalized just five minutes later with a goal from Kalil ElMedkhar, however, and the sides entered the halftime break level at 1-1.
The home side earned the first chance of the half in the 51st minute when Walmer Martínez drove up the field into space. At the end of his run, he found Okoli beyond the top of the 18-yard box for a shot, but it was caught by the goalkeeper. Three minutes later, after continuing to apply pressure on visitors in their half of the pitch, Monterey Bay retook the lead with a world class goal from Boone. With possession near the top of the box, Okoli played the ball back to Boone on the right sideline. Seeing the goalkeeper out of his box, Boone launched the ball from distance, floating it over the goalkeeper and into the top-left corner of the net for the 2-1 lead, Okoli’s first assist as a member of Monterey Bay. The Crisp and Kelp came close again in the 57th minute, but Adrian Rebollar’s half-volley from the edge of the box was fired just wide of the left post.
Then in the 89th minute, Simon Dawkins made a long run through the middle of the pitch before playing the ball to Gleadle, who played it right back to Dawkins in give-and-go fashion for the shot. The ensuing shot from just outside the six-yard box smashed off the near post and back across the goal toward Volesky, who tapped it into the back of the net for the 3-1 lead. Two minutes later in nightcap fashion, Monterey Bay broke out on the counter once again, allowing for Gleadle to find a streaking Dixon all alone inside the box. One on one with the goalkeeper, Dixon patiently picked out his spot and fired the ball past the goalkeeper and inside the left post to put the stamp on a 4-1 home win for the Union.
Up Next: Monterey Bay F.C. hits the road for a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada to take on Lights FC at Cashman Field next Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. PT. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes:
– Ugo Okoli made his first start for the Crisp and Kelp in the match. Okoli had previously appeared in four of the Club’s six matches since signing with Monterey Bay near the end of April.
– Chase Boone opened his 2023 account with an insane goal in the 54th minute of the match. Okoli recorded his first assist as a member of the Union on the play.
– Max Glasser missed the match due to his continued stay at the Nicaraguan National Team’s CONCACAF Gold Cup microcycle, while Alex Lara (ankle) and Grant Robinson (leg) missed the match due to injury.
Match: Monterey Bay F.C. vs Loudoun United FC
Date: June 3, 2023
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Partly cloudy and 56 degrees
Attendance: 3,054
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Monterey Bay F.C. 1 3 4
Loudoun United FC 1 0 1
MB: Sam Gleadle (Christian Volesky) 33’
LDN: Kalil ElMedkhar (Jackson Hopkins) 38’
MB: Chase Boone (Ugo Okoli) 54’
MB: Christian Volesky 89’
MB: Alex Dixon (Sam Gleadle) 90+1’
Lineups:
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-4-2): Carlos Herrera; Walmer Martínez, Mobi Fehr, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; James Murphy, Adrian Rebollar, Chase Boone (Simon Dawkins, 86’), Sam Gleadle; Ugo Okoli (Alex Dixon, 66’), Christian Volesky
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Hugh Roberts, Nevello Yoseke, Chuy Enríquez, Jesse Maldonado
Loudoun United FC (3-4-3): Hugo Faroux; Abdoul Zanne (Wesley Leggett, 63’), Aidan Rocha, Bryce Washington; Abdooul Koanda (Juan Ramirez, 45’), Koa Santos, Jeremy Garay (Zachary Ryan, 70’), Kalil ElMedkhar; Matai Akinmboni (Hayden Sargis, 70’), Jackson Hopkins, Tommy Williamson
Subs not used: Dane Jacomen, Yanis Leerman, Daniel Chica
Stats Summary: MB / LDN
Shots: 16 / 8
Shots on Goal: 8 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 3
Fouls: 9 / 12
Possession: 54.4% / 45.6%
Misconduct Summary:
MB: Morey Doner (caution) 6’
LDN: Jackson Hopkins (caution) 16’
LDN: Koa Santos (caution) 23’
MB: James Murphy (caution) 26’
LDN: Juan Ramirez (caution) 75’
Officials:
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referee: Justin Fillmore
Assistant Referee: Alberto Azpeitia-Palomino
Fourth Official: Adrian Gonzalez
