Monterey Bay F.C. Falls to San Diego at Torero Stadium in Last-Ever Regular Season Meeting With Loyal SC
SAN DIEGO, California (Saturday, September 30, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. (11-13-8, 41 points) fell 4-1 to San Diego Loyal SC (14-9-8, 50 points) at Torero Stadium in the last-ever regular season meeting between the sides. Morey Doner scored in the 19th minute to put the Union in front first, but four unanswered goals from San Diego left Monterey Bay without points on the night.
Monterey Bay earned an opportunity following some early possession after James Murphy drew a foul from 25 yards out in the 3rd minute. Murphy whipped the ball into the box towards the far post, but the ensuing header missed over the crossbar. Another opportunity came in the 5th minute for the Union. Consecutive crosses from Doner were sent into the box, but both opportunities went awry. San Diego then earned its first chance of the night just 30 seconds later with a left-footed shot by Tumi Moshobane, but the attempt was scooped up by Carlos Herrera. Monterey Bay broke out on the counter in the 11th minute following a long ball from Alex Lara that saw Alex Dixon into acres of space, but Dixon’s shot from outside the box missed wide of the left post. Following a corner for the Union, Sam Gleadle hit a dangerous knuckleball on frame, but it was denied by the goalkeeper. Then in the 19th minute, the Crisp-and-Kelp found the night’s opening goal. In possession inside San Diego’s half of the pitch, Lara passed the ball laterally to Murphy near the center circle. With his first touch, Murphy played a beautiful through ball out in front of a box-gashing run by Doner. After taking a touch to bring the ball to his right, Doner fired a grassburner on goal that hit the right post and in to give the Union the 1-0 lead. Moments later, Rafael Baca found himself on the end of a cross inside the box, but his shot was saved by the keeper. The hosts then responded with back-to-back headers in the 26th and 29th minutes by Ronaldo Damus and Carlos Guzman to give San Diego the 2-1 lead. A third goal looked likely in the 32nd minute, but a shot by Loyal SC from inside the six was denied by Herrera and the score held through the halftime break.
An interception by Walmer Martínez sprung Monterey Bay on the counter in the 52nd minute. Ugo Okoli earned a corner kick for the Union, but the opportunity was defended well by San Diego. Another corner for the Crisp-and-Kelp resulted in a header, but it was cleared off the line by a Loyal SC defender. The Loyal immediately countered with an attack of their own, but Martínez was there to stop the run. San Diego extended their lead in the 73rd minute with a goal from Damus, his second of the night to bring the match to 3-1. Second-half substitute Chase Boone found some space above the box in the 78th minute, but his shot missed over the crossbar. Doner earned a free kick for the Union in the first minute of stoppage time, however the ball played into the mix was brought down and turned into a two on one break by San Diego that ended in a shot for Loyal SC, but it missed wide of the left post. With Monterey Bay continuing to push everyone forward in search of a goal, San Diego took advantage of another counter attack opportunity, turning a three on one into a third goal on the night for Damus. One last free kick for the Union was played short to Chuy Enríquez, but his shot was saved at the near post and the match ended 4-1 in favor of San Diego.
Up Next
Monterey Bay takes to the skies for a visit to Birmingham, Alabama for its third of three consecutive matches away from home. The Union will face Birmingham Legion FC at Protective Stadium on Sunday, October 8 at 2:00 p.m. PT. The match can be streamed live on ESPN+.
Notes
– Monterey Bay finished the night with 10 corner kicks earned, just one shy of the all-time Club record for corner kicks in a single match (11) set in the inaugural home opener against Las Vegas on May 7, 2022.
– Missing the match due to injury were Simon Dawkins (knee), Mobi Fehr (hamstring), Jesse Maldonado (knee), and Grant Robinson (abdomen).
Information
Date: September 30, 2023
Venue: Torero Stadium; San Diego, California
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 65 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
San Diego Loyal SC 2 2 4
Monterey Bay F.C. 1 0 1
MB: Morey Doner (James Murphy) 19’
SD: Ronaldo Damus (Blake Bodily) 26’
SD: Carlos Guzman (Charlie Adams) 29’
SD: Ronaldo Damus (Joe Corona) 73’
SD: Ronaldo Damus 90+6’
Lineups
San Diego Loyal SC (4-4-2): Koke Vegas; Carlos Guzman, Grant Stoneman, Camden Riley; Adrien Perez (Michael Chilaka, 90+1’), Blake Bodily, Charlie Adams, Tumi Moshobane (Evan Conway, 60’), Alejandro Guido (Collin Martin, 60’); Joe Corona (Morgan Hackworth, 88’), Ronaldo Damus
Subs not used: Taylor Bailey, Nick Moon, Xavi Gnaulati
Monterey Bay F.C. (3-4-3): Carlos Herrera; Alex Lara (Adrian Rebollar, 72’), Kai Greene, Hugh Roberts II; Walmer Martínez (Chase Boone, 67’), Rafa Baca, James Murphy, Morey Doner; Alex Dixon (Chuy Enríquez, 85’), Ugo Okoli (Christian Volesky, 67’) Sam Gleadle
Subs not used: Antony Siaha, Max Glasser, Nevello Yoseke
Stats Summary: SD / MB
Shots: 15 / 14
Shots on Goal: 9 / 5
Saves: 4 / 5
Corner Kicks: 4 / 10
Fouls: 11 / 10
Possession: 52.4% / 47.6%
Misconduct Summary
MB: Alex Lara (caution) 11’
SD: Ronaldo Damus (caution) 66’
SD: Charlie Adams (caution) 90’
Officials
Referee: Benjamin Meyer
Assistant Referee: Salma Perez
Assistant Referee: Andrew Hanks
Fourth Official: Servando Berna
