Monterey Bay F.C. Falls 3-2 at Home to San Diego Loyal SC
SEASIDE, California (Wednesday, September 20, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (11-12-7, 40 points) fell 3-2 to San Diego Loyal SC (12-9-7, 43 points) on Hospitality Night at Cardinale Stadium, presented by Coastal Roots Hospitality. Sam Gleadle and Alex Lara scored to give the Union an early two-goal advantage, but a score just before the half from San Diego preceded back-to-back goals in stoppage time to steal all three points for the visitors in stunning fashion.
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Monterey Bay’s first chance of the night came on a counter attack led by Alex Dixon in the 20th minute. Following his run down the left side, he laid the ball off to James Murphy who fired the ball into the center of the box towards Gleadle, but his flicked-on header was caught by the goalkeeper. Three minutes later in the 23rd minute, Rafa Baca played a long ball over the top to Gleadle making a run down the right side. Burning grass with his speed to get behind the back line, Gleadle took one dribble into the box before smashing the ball inside the near post to put the Crisp-and-Kelp in front 1-0. The Union looked to double its lead in the 29th minute with another quick attack, but the ensuing shot by Dixon ricocheted off the left post. But in the 37th minute following a free kick earned by Dixon, Murphy swung a right-footed ball into the box that led to the Union’s second goal of the night. Lara rose up into the air and fired the header past the goalkeeper to extend Monterey Bay’s lead to 2-0. San Diego pulled one back shortly after with a header from Adrien Perez just before the half to send the sides into the break at 2-1.
Dixon got things started in the second half with a chance goal for the home side in the 50th minute, but his right-footed shot from the top of the box missed to the left. San Diego then looked to level the match a minute later, but Perez’ shot was saved by Carlos Herrera. Perez took another crack at goal in the 58th, but his shot was once again helped over the crossbar with a big save by Herrera. In the 79th minute, Walmer Martínez pushed the pace down the left side before playing the ball to Adrian Rebollar further down the line. Rebollar then crossed the ball into the box, but the pass just missed Ugo Okoli at the top of the six. The Union attacked again a few moments later with Martínez driving into the center of the box before finding Max Glasser on the right side, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. In the 89th minute, Okoli sent a ball across the box to Glasser on the right, who then looped it back to Rebollar alone in space inside the six, but Rebollar’s shot missed over the crossbar. Monterey Bay felt the repercussions of the missed chance less than a minute later when San Diego’s Xavi Gnaulati equalized off the bench. Then three minutes later in the third and final minute of stoppage time, San Diego’s Gnaulati silenced the crowd with a second goal, a walk-off score to secure a brace for himself and steal all three points on the night for the visitors.
Up Next: Monterey Bay now hits the road for three consecutive matches away from home. First up, a local derby this weekend against Oakland Roots SC at Pioneer Stadium on Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. PT. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes
– Defender Alex Lara scored his second goal in as many games with a header in the 37th minute.
– Missing the match due to injury were Simon Dawkins (knee), Mobi Fehr (hamstring), Jesse Maldonado (knee), and Grant Robinson (abdomen).
Information
Date: September 20, 2023
Venue: Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, California
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 60 degrees
Attendance: 3,427
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Monterey Bay F.C. 2 0 2
San Diego Loyal SC 1 2 3
MB: Sam Gleadle (Rafa Baca) 23’
MB: Alex Lara (James Murphy) 37’
SD: Adrien Perez 44’
SD: Xavi Gnaulati (Blake Bodily) 90’
SD: Xavi Gnaulati 90+3’
Lineups
Monterey Bay F.C. (3-4-3): Carlos Herrera; Alex Lara, Kai Greene, Hugh Roberts II; Walmer Martínez, Rafa Baca, James Murphy (Adrian Rebollar, 70’), Morey Doner; Alex Dixon (Max Glasser, 75’), Ugo Okoli, Sam Gleadle (Chase Boone, 70’)
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Nevello Yoseke, Chuy Enríquez, Christian Volesky
San Diego Loyal SC (4-4-2): Koke Vegas; Carlos Guzman, Grant Stoneman, Camden Riley (Morgan Hackworth, 85’); Adrien Perez, Blake Bodily, Joe Corona, Charlie Adams (Xavi Gnaulati, 80’), Collin Martin (Alejandro Guido, 68’); Evan Conway, Ronaldo Damus (Tumi Moshobane, 68’)
Subs not used: Duran Ferree, Michael Chilaka, Nick Moon
Stats Summary: MB / SD
Shots: 12 / 18
Shots on Goal: 4 / 8
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 7
Fouls: 14 / 13
Possession: 28.2% / 71.8%
Misconduct Summary
SD: Collin Martin (caution) 45+1’
SD: Camden Riley (caution) 82’
Officials
Referee: Melvin Rivas
Assistant Referee: Baboucarr Jallow
Assistant Referee: Bhavik Dutt
Fourth Official: Turan Ozdemir
