Lamar Batista Scores Twice, Assists in First Match with SAFC
SAN ANTONIO (March 11, 2023) – San Antonio FC topped Oakland Roots SC 3-1 tonight in front of a sold-out Toyota Field, behind a brace and assist from Lamar Batista. Batista joined the squad on Thursday, and made the start on defense.
SAFC’s first goal of the season came from Niko Hansen in the 12th minute to start the scoring at 1-0. Batista assisted on the goal, his first assist with SAFC and coming in both players’ first match with the team.
Batista was in on the action again before halftime, bicycling in a goal off of a corner kick from PC to make it 2-0.
Oakland pulled one back in the 50th minute, but Batista would strike for a second time in the 74th minute to make it a 3-1 final score.
On the defensive side, goalkeeper Jordan Farr made six saves in the match to help preserve the win.
Next Up
San Antonio FC will head to Loudoun next week for a Sunday match against Loudoun United FC. Kickoff from Segra Field is set for 3:00 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Niko Hansen (Assisted by Lamar Batista) 12’
SAFC: 2-0, Lamar Batista (Assisted by PC) 45+2’
OAK: 2-1, Memo Diaz (Assisted by Edgardo Rito) 59’
SAFC: 3-1 Lamar Batista 74’
Postgame Notes:
- Niko Hansen’s goal in the 12th minute marks his first with SAFC, coming in his first match with the club.
- Lamar Batista’s assist on Hansen’s goal marks his first with SAFC, coming in his first match with the club.
- Batista added to his performance with a goal in stoppage time of the first half to make it 2-0.
- PC earned the assist on Batista’s goal, his first of the season.
- Batista scored again in the 74th minute, the first brace by an SAFC player since Santiago Patino in the USL Championship Final last November.
- Goalkeeper Jordan Farr made six saves in the match to preserve the win.
Attendance: 8,106 (sellout)
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Jordan Farr; D: Fabien Garcia, Mitchell Taintor, Lamar Batista, Shannon Gomez, Connor Maloney; M: PC (captain), Jacori Hayes, Cristian Parano (David Loera) (Ignacio Bailone 45’); F: Justin Dhillon (Mohammed Abu 87’), Niko Hansen (Kimarni Smith 76’)
Substitutions not used: Jose Carlos Mercado, Roman Holt
Disciplinary Summary:
OAK: Yellow Card (Joseph Nane) 14’
OAK: Yellow Card (Edgardo Rito) 16’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Lamar Batista) 43’
OAK: Yellow Card (Napo Matsoso) 50’
OAK: Yellow Card (Irakoze Donasiyano) 90+’
Quotes:
Head Coach Alen Marcina
(On the win…)
“Obviously very very pleased to earn the three points. The fans, sold out stadium, were incredibly loud, passionate. Players feed of their energy. Our game model is obviously very very demanding of our players. They leave everything they have out on the field and we do it for our fans. Overall, pleased with the three points. Obviously some things we need to work on. Already we’re faced with adversity, Cristian Parano coming out in warmup. We had two starting players, one recalled, one injury, a week before game number one, our roster is very small as is. But we don’t make excuses here, and I felt we definitely earned the three points.”
(On Lamar Batista’s debut…)
“Obviously Lamar scores two beautiful goals but also, the pressing actions he was committed to. It’s a first for him to be man-to-man marking. He did a great job containing [Lindo] Mfeka – we knew we had to contain Mfeka and [Edgardo] Rito. Those are two difference makers for Oakland, and in this league, and obviously the two beautiful goals. You don’t often see that from centerbacks but we’ll take it.”
(On integrating new players…)
“I think that’s credit to the player leadership. We feel we do a decent job of acquiring the right people, who we feel fit our team identity – that’s both on and off the field. And then our player leadership do an amazing job of helping these guys get caught up to speed, kind of teaching them the standards that we’ve collectively created. And then they come here they’re open minded, with a growth mindset, they embrace what we do and they excelled tonight.”
Defender Lamar Batista
(On his performance…)
“A clean sheet would’ve been nice. A couple interceptions were good but you know, kinda putting them in bad areas. Hopefully in a few more weeks I sharpen up, and we’ll see.”
(On his performance…)
“I’ve never been a part of a group where everybody from your striker to you 10 to your eight, six, everyone fights there’s no excuse everyone does their job. I’m a worker myself I love to work I love to fight. I usually love to chirp. But everybody here was working their tails off. It’s great, I love this type of football.”
Forward Niko Hansen
(On scoring in his debut…)
“It’s been a long last two or three years for me – trying to get minutes and being healthy. I think I just … I’ve been really just trying to … get back to normal and doing what I know and keeping it simple. Everything that I’ve done up until this point just reaffirms that what I’m doing is right and what I’m doing is good. I’m happy for the team obviously, everything that they’ve done and they’ve pushed me, given me the confidence.”
