– San Antonio FC (14-8-10) defeated the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (13-9-10) on Saturday at Toyota Field 3-0 to secure a home playoff game in the first round. SAFC will now host a Western Conference Quarterfinal on Friday, November 5 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at https://www.sanantoniofc.com.
“Colorado Springs and us both had a lot to play for tonight, and they are a very good team,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “They made it very challenging, credit to them. They were excellent all season long. But at the same time, I am incredibly proud of the collective. It was a total team effort from start to finish. We earned those three points. I’m so happy for our fans that we play for. We have the opportunity to host the first round in the playoffs and we are so excited for that.”
SAFC entered the pivotal match as the dominate side, looking to replicate the first match between the two sides in the first game of the season when SAFC also earned a 3-0 win. The Alamo City club opened the scoring in the 5th minute when a cross from Nathan deflected off of Switchbacks defender Michael Edwards for an own goal. SAFC entered halftime with the one-goal lead, looking to add to their tally in the second half.
San Antonio FC jumped out of the gates in the second 45 quickly when Jose Gallegos scored just one minute in. A great run from Nathan led to an easy pass that split the defenders, allowing Gallegos to chip over the goalkeeper for the 2-0 lead. SAFC then made it three after a brilliant cross from Marcus Epps found the head of Kortne Ford who scored his fourth goal of the season after the ball just crossed the line.
With the win, SAFC secured second place in the Mountain Division and a top four place in the Western Conference. The club will now host the Quarterfinal match against either San Diego Loyal SC or Orange County SC depending on tonight’s results.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Own Goal (Michael Edwards) 5’
SAFC: 2-0, Jose Gallegos (Nathan assist) 46’
SAFC: 3-0, Kortne Ford (Marcus Epps assist) 68’
Disciplinary Summary:
COS: Yellow Card (Brendan Burke) 17’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Santiago Patino) 24’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Jasser Khmiri) 45’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Kortne Ford) 63’
COS: Yellow Card (Hadji Barry) 66’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Sam Gleadle) 81’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Mohammed Abu) 86’
Attendance: 5,232
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone (Carlos Mercado 61’); D: Kortne Ford, Jasser Khmiri, Mitch Taintor; M: Connor Maloney, Mohammed Abu, Jose Gallegos (Chris Lema 89’), Marcus Epps, PC (c) (Cam Lindley 89’); F: Nathan (Justin Dhillon 73’), Santiago Patino (Sam Gleadle) 45’
Substitutions not used: Joaquin Varela, Ollie Wright, Cam Lindley, Chris Lema
Postgame Notes:
- SAFC finished with 14 wins, which is tied for their second most in team history…SAFC won both seven matches at home and on the road in 2021…SAFC finished the season with a 3-0-1 record against the Switchbacks including two 3-0 wins at home
- SAFC will now host the fourth home playoff match in team history, with one coming in 2020 and two coming in 2017
- SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone made five saves, giving him 99 on the season and a new San Antonio FC single-season record
- SAFC midfielder Jose Gallegos was named the SWBC Man of the Match after recording four shots, three key passes and his seventh goal of the season
- SAFC goalkeeper Carlos Mercado made his professional debut, coming on in the 61st minute for the injured Matthew Cardone
- SAFC defender Kortne Ford scored his fourth goal of the season while also helping keep a clean sheet while adding four interceptions and two clearances
– San Antonio FC (14-8-10) defeated the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (13-9-10) on Saturday at Toyota Field 3-0 to secure a home playoff game in the first round. SAFC will now host a Western Conference Quarterfinal on Friday, November 5 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at https://www.sanantoniofc.com.
“Colorado Springs and us both had a lot to play for tonight, and they are a very good team,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “They made it very challenging, credit to them. They were excellent all season long. But at the same time, I am incredibly proud of the collective. It was a total team effort from start to finish. We earned those three points. I’m so happy for our fans that we play for. We have the opportunity to host the first round in the playoffs and we are so excited for that.”
SAFC entered the pivotal match as the dominate side, looking to replicate the first match between the two sides in the first game of the season when SAFC also earned a 3-0 win. The Alamo City club opened the scoring in the 5th minute when a cross from Nathan deflected off of Switchbacks defender Michael Edwards for an own goal. SAFC entered halftime with the one-goal lead, looking to add to their tally in the second half.
San Antonio FC jumped out of the gates in the second 45 quickly when Jose Gallegos scored just one minute in. A great run from Nathan led to an easy pass that split the defenders, allowing Gallegos to chip over the goalkeeper for the 2-0 lead. SAFC then made it three after a brilliant cross from Marcus Epps found the head of Kortne Ford who scored his fourth goal of the season after the ball just crossed the line.
With the win, SAFC secured second place in the Mountain Division and a top four place in the Western Conference. The club will now host the Quarterfinal match against either San Diego Loyal SC or Orange County SC depending on tonight’s results.
Scoring Summary:
SAFC: 1-0, Own Goal (Michael Edwards) 5’
SAFC: 2-0, Jose Gallegos (Nathan assist) 46’
SAFC: 3-0, Kortne Ford (Marcus Epps assist) 68’
Disciplinary Summary:
COS: Yellow Card (Brendan Burke) 17’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Santiago Patino) 24’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Jasser Khmiri) 45’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Kortne Ford) 63’
COS: Yellow Card (Hadji Barry) 66’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Sam Gleadle) 81’
SAFC: Yellow Card (Mohammed Abu) 86’
Attendance: 5,232
SAFC Starting XI: GK: Matthew Cardone (Carlos Mercado 61’); D: Kortne Ford, Jasser Khmiri, Mitch Taintor; M: Connor Maloney, Mohammed Abu, Jose Gallegos (Chris Lema 89’), Marcus Epps, PC (c) (Cam Lindley 89’); F: Nathan (Justin Dhillon 73’), Santiago Patino (Sam Gleadle) 45’
Substitutions not used: Joaquin Varela, Ollie Wright, Cam Lindley, Chris Lema
Postgame Notes:
- SAFC finished with 14 wins, which is tied for their second most in team history…SAFC won both seven matches at home and on the road in 2021…SAFC finished the season with a 3-0-1 record against the Switchbacks including two 3-0 wins at home
- SAFC will now host the fourth home playoff match in team history, with one coming in 2020 and two coming in 2017
- SAFC goalkeeper Matthew Cardone made five saves, giving him 99 on the season and a new San Antonio FC single-season record
- SAFC midfielder Jose Gallegos was named the SWBC Man of the Match after recording four shots, three key passes and his seventh goal of the season
- SAFC goalkeeper Carlos Mercado made his professional debut, coming on in the 61st minute for the injured Matthew Cardone
- SAFC defender Kortne Ford scored his fourth goal of the season while also helping keep a clean sheet while adding four interceptions and two clearances
