Monterey Bay Heads South to San Diego for Rematch with Loyal SC
SAN DIEGO, California (Friday, Saturday 29, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (11-12-8, 41 points) travels South to San Diego for a crucial 7:00 p.m. PT rematch on Saturday against Loyal SC (13-9-8, 47 points) at Torero Stadium in Week 30 of the 2023 USL Championship regular season. Live streaming of the match will be available on ESPN+.
Monterey Bay makes the in-state trip down South to San Diego for a rematch with Loyal SC just 10 days after the Crisp-and-Kelp were stunned by two stoppage time goals from Xavi Gnaulati to fall 3-2 to San Diego at Cardinale Stadium in Seaside. To make matters worse, the Union saw a second 2-1 lead evaporate in stoppage time just four days later in Hayward against Roots SC. With the side dropping five points seemingly out of nowhere in its previous two matches, the Union’s upcoming fixture with San Diego has become that much more important as the Club looks to clinch its first-ever playoff berth.
With the dust fully settled on a wild three-match week, Monterey Bay still finds itself sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 41 points. Also on 41 points is seventh place Oakland Roots SC, who clung onto seventh with its last-second goal to tie last weekend. Colorado Springs currently sits in sixth place with 43 points, while San Diego, Phoenix, and Orange County sit three, four and five, all on 47 points. There is a lot of soccer left to be played across the league and anything can happen, but with just three matches left in the season for Monterey Bay, it looks unlikely for the Union to catch any of the three teams currently on 47 points in the West at this moment in time. Moving up into sixth or seventh by season’s end, however, is still a real possibility – as is falling as far as 11th. That is why for the Union, it is crucial to maximize the points taken in each match going forward to ensure that Monterey Bay, at the very least, retains its place above the line in any capacity and makes the postseason for the first time in the Club’s young history.
San Diego Loyal SC vs. Monterey Bay F.C.
Torero Stadium; San Diego, California
Saturday, September 30, 2023; 7:00 p.m. PT
Access SDvMB Match Notes
The Adobe PDF version of the 2023 Match Guide in advance of Saturday’s contest between Monterey Bay F.C. and San Diego Loyal SC can be found here. Media members looking to receive the document as an attachment or have further questions are asked to please contact Steven Vargo in MBFC Communications via email at steven@montereybayfc.com.
2023 Records
San Diego Loyal SC (13-9-8, 47 pts, 3rd West); Monterey Bay F.C. (11-12-8, 41 pts, 8th West)
SportsClubStats Playoff Predictor (53.5%)
Chance of playoffs with a WIN: 82.9%
Chance of playoffs with a DRAW: 52.9%
Chance of playoffs with a LOSS: 39.4%
Weekend Fixtures to Watch:
Colorado Springs vs Rio Grande Valley – Saturday, 5:00 p.m. PT
→ Best outcome: Draw or Colorado Springs win
El Paso vs Charleston – Saturday, 6:30 p.m. PT
→ Best outcome: Charleston win
Oakland vs San Antonio – Saturday, 7:00 p.m. PT
→ Best outcome: San Antonio win
Phoenix vs Orange County – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. PT
→ Best outcome: Draw or Phoenix win
