A packed house at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium witnessed a match that went down to the wire on Wednesday, April 6 as San Diego Loyal was able to pull out 2-1 in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
After a back and forth first half, Loyal took the lead in the 45th minute thanks to a goal by forward Evan Conway who was able to split two defenders to place the ball just past the outstretched arm of Albion San Diego goalkeeper Ben Roach.
The two teams started the second half continuing to create chances with the home team taking advantage in the 65th minute courtesy of a goal by forward Mayale Malango who shot the ball past Loyal goalkeeper Austin Guerrero. Albion looked like it had a chance to pull off the upset and match what teams like Central Valley Fuego and Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC did against USL Championship sides El Paso Locomotive and Colorado Switchbacks the day before.
Those aspirations came to an end in the 89th minute after San Diego forward Alejandro Guido took a corner kick and found the head of defender Taylor Crull who was able to get to the ball a split second before Roach did and headed the ball into the back of the net.
Albion San Diego still had a slim chance to tie the game after seven minutes of stoppage time were given, but a red card issued on defender Jake Haupt, who the referee deemed made unnecessary contact with Guido in the 92nd minute, made the task next to impossible with Loyal coming out with the win.
“Happy with the result and the effort by our guys but even happier for San Diego soccer in general,” said Loyal president Ricardo Campos.
Loyal will find out who its third-round opponent is tomorrow morning, which could be any team including rival Phoenix Rising who they recently defeated back on March 26, the reigning USL champions Orange County SC, or even a Major League Soccer side now that the U.S. Open Cup allows Division 1 competitors to enter the tournament in the third round instead of the fourth as in previous years.
As for Albion, the team now gets ready for its first home match of the NISA regular season versus LA Force this Sunday at Canyon Crest Academy.
