San Diego Loyal posted its second straight win to start the season after beating Sacramento Republic 2-0 on March 19 at Torero Stadium. San Diego Loyal got both of its scores in the first half from defender Kyle Adams in the 35th minute and midfielder Charlie Adams in the 45th minute and played great defense the entire match to preserve the shutout.
“I am proud that we keep competing and finding ways to win,” said San Diego Loyal head coach Landon Donovan said. “You have to find ways to win, and our guys did that.”
San Diego also got an outstanding performance from Spanish goalkeeper Koke Vegas who earned his first clean sheet of the season in only his second appearance with the team.
Loyal was able to create other scoring chances in the second half including one from forward Alejandro Guido who hit a low shot that was deflected by Sacramento goalkeeper Carlos Saldaña in the 59th minute. Then there was standout player from their previous game, Thomas Amang, who came on as a substitute in the second half and also created opportunities for his team.
“I am very proud of them,” Donovan added. “Tonight was a different version of us that I am really proud of because we ground out a result.”
With these first two wins, Loyal has started this season in a completely different way from 2021 when they suffered four consecutive losses to start off yet were still able to make the playoffs.
“I love San Diego. I call it home now,” said defender Kyle Adams. “I have a lot of fond memories of San Diego. It feels great to be back home and playing in front of those fans, you can’t ask for anything better.”
The game served as a kind of homecoming for the 25-year-old who played his college soccer at San Diego State University from 2015 to 2017. He signed with Loyal during the offseason after spending time at Real Monarchs and Rio Grande Valley FC.
Loyal now goes on the road to face off against FC Tulsa on March 23 before traveling for their first match of the season against rival Phoenix Rising on Saturday, March 26 in Arizona.
