ALBION SAN DIEGO
Albion San Diego came out with a valuable 1-1 draw at home against Bay Cities FC on Sunday at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium earning them a point in the standings as the team led by head coach Ziggy Korytoski gets ready to square off against West Division leader Cal United Strikers FC in their next match.
Albion took the lead thanks to a beautiful pass into the box from midfielder Pablo Pelaez who found teammate Alioune Diakhate streaking into the box getting by the defenders to right-foot the ball in for the 1-0 advantage. Albion had a chance to extend the lead a minute later off a shot from 10 yards out by midfielder Eduard Puga.
But Bay Cities FC would capitalize on the missed opportunity to tie the game 1-1 in the 16th minute thanks to a goal from a short-range shot from forward Josiah Romero. Albion San Diego would go up a man after an ejection on Bay Cities FC in the 64th minute, but was unable to capitalize and had to settle for the draw. Albion SD next plays against Cal United at Canyon Crest Academy Stadium on June 10.
SAN DIEGO LOYAL
San Diego Loyal was able to bounce back from a two-goal deficit on Thursday to get a valuable point on the road against the NY Red Bulls II. The team, led by soccer legend Landon Donovan, found themselves down early after giving up goals in the 16th and 24th minute and were almost able to cut the lead in half in the 28th minute when a bicycle kick from forward Alejandro Guido was blocked by goalkeeper Anthony Marcucci.
Despite being down 2-0 at halftime, Loyal was able to gather themselves and regain the momentum to start the second half by scoring in the 50th minute courtesy of a beautiful header from forward Thomas Amang. Amang, who has now earned the nickname “Amangol” among the Loyal fanbase, came in as a substitute and would make his presence felt again in the 88th minute when he right-footed a shot from six yards out to tie the game. His second goal was thanks to teammate Nick Moon being able to streak by the New York defense with his deflected shot bouncing straight to Amang.
San Diego Loyal now find themselves tied for third place in the Western Conference standings with New Mexico United both at 22 points but with New Mexico having played one less match. Loyal next faces Hartford Athletic on Saturday, June 11 at Torero Stadium with this being the team’s first home match in almost two months due to the league rescheduling the May 14 game against conference leader Colorado Switchbacks.
SAN DIEGO WAVE
The Wave earned a dramatic draw after finding themselves down twice to the Kansas City Current on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas.
After falling behind in the 11th minute, the Wave tied the score on a 37th-minute penalty kick conversion from forward Alex Morgan to take the teams into halftime tied 1-1.
Just when it looked that San Diego had taken control of the match by keeping the ball and creating better chances to start the second half, the Current scored off a corner kick which turned out to be a practiced set piece in the 63rd minute.
As the clock kept ticking down, the team, led by head coach Casey Stoney, was about to suffer its first back-to-back losses of the season before a fabulous run by forward Sofia Jakobsson at the end of regulation. The Swedish women’s soccer national team star then gave a pinpoint pass to Morgan who was able to control the ball with her left foot and tap it in with her right to make the score 2-2.
Despite the six minutes of added time given, neither team was able to break the deadlock even though San Diego had the best chance in the 95th minute when Jakobsson had a one-on-one breakaway down the left side, but the referee deemed she had pushed off before entering the box.
San Diego Wave now comes home after finishing their four-game road trip to face off with the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, June 8 at Torero Stadium followed by a rematch with OL Reign on Sunday, June 12 also at home.
Hector Trujillo has been covering soccer starting with the San Diego State University men’s soccer team in 2003 for The Daily Aztec. A graduate of SDSU where he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees, Trujillo has a lifelong passion for playing and writing about the beautiful game.
Albion photo courtesy David Frerker
SD Loyal photo courtesy San Diego Loyal
SD Wave photo courtesy San Diego Wave FC
