The Union extend their unbeaten run to five matches; earn fourth consecutive shutout
LEESBURG, Virginia (Saturday, July 30, 2022) – Monterey Bay F.C. (7-11-2, 23 points) defeated Loudoun United FC 1-0 at Segra Field behind a game-winning goal in stoppage time, a ridiculous right-footed side volley, from second-half substitute Seku Conneh to cap off an unbeaten month of July for the Crisp and Kelp.
The match began slowly with both sides looking to get on the ball in the first 25 minutes of the contest. In the 26th minute, Loudoun United FC forward Zoumana Diarra fired off a right-footed shot from beyond the top-left corner of the 18-yard box, but the shot missed over the top of the crossbar and the sides remained scoreless. The Union earned their first dangerous chance of the half in the 28th minute, but Jason Johnson’s low cross into the box toward Christian Volesky was deemed offside. A minute later, Grant Robinson looped a ball into the box off of a long-distance set piece, but Kai Greene’s diving header was saved. With Monterey Bay F.C. on the front foot, the Crisp and Kelp created yet another chance in the 31st minute, but Johnson’s shot from the right side of the box was parried back into play. In the 43rd minute, Johnson finished a run down the right side of the pitch with a shot that deflected out for a corner, but the ensuing corner kick that resulted in a header by Hugh Roberts was caught by the goalkeeper and the sides went into the half with the score even at 0-0.
Two minutes into the second half, a foul conceded in a dangerous position by Adrian Rebollar led to a free kick opportunity for Loudoun United FC on the left side of the box, but the curling effort from Skage Lehland missed over the top of the crossbar. Johnson earned the Union’s first chance of the second half in the 52nd minute following a run down the right flank, but his shot missed to the outside of the near post. In the 62nd minute, Johnson found himself with the ball inside the box once again, but his grass-burning shot after cutting back to get the ball onto his left foot smacked the right post to deny the Union once again. As Monterey Bay F.C. continued to push for the winner in the 83rd minute, Morey Doner looped a ball toward Conneh near the left side of the six-yard box, but his header was caught by the goalkeeper. A minute later, Loudoun United FC fired a shot from distance on goal, but goalkeeper Antony Siaha made an impressive diving save to keep the hosts off the scoreboard. Then in the 3rd minute of added time, following a quickly taken short-corner, Robinson crossed yet another ball into the mix. After momentarily bouncing around amongst the trees inside the box, Conneh brought the ball down off his head, off his chest, and then slammed it into the back of the net with an impressive right-footed side volley to give the Crisp and Kelp the late 1-0 victory.
Man of the Match: Following the Union’s fourth consecutive shutout, man of the match honors belong to none other than the captain Hugh Roberts. Throughout the club’s unbeaten month of July, Roberts has stood tall on the back like for Monterey Bay F.C. and showed it again tonight. Defensively, Roberts recorded four clearances, two tackles and won six of eight duels. He recorded a club-high 97.4% pass success rate on 39 total passes, including a 91.7% pass success rate in the opponent’s half of the pitch. And in stoppage time, Roberts tallied the game-winning assist to Seku Conneh, his first-ever assist as a member of the Crisp and Kelp.
Notes:
– Monterey Bay F.C. extended its unbeaten streak to five matches with three wins and two draws in its previous five contests.
– The Union also recorded their fourth consecutive shutout, having not allowed a single goal in the last 360 minutes overall.
– Goalkeeper Antony Siaha recorded a career-high six saves on his way to claiming his third awarded clean sheet in just his fourth professional start.
– Forward Jason Johnson earned his first start for Monterey Bay F.C. in the match.
– Following a red card in the club’s previous match against New York Red Bulls II, midfielder James Murphy missed the match to serve a one-game suspension.
– Missing the match due to injury were Rafi Díaz (shoulder), Chase Boone (calf), and Walmer Martínez (hamstring).
Match: Loudoun United FC vs Monterey Bay F.C.
Date: July 30, 2022
Venue: Segra Field; Leesburg, Virginia
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 81 degrees
Attendance: 1,737
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Loudoun United FC 0 0 0
Monterey Bay F.C. 0 1 1
MB: Seku Conneh (Hugh Roberts) 90+3’
Lineups:
Loudoun United FC (4-2-3-1): Luis Zamudio; Hayden Sargis, Carson Vom Steeg, Jalen Robinson, Jacob Greene; Nicky Downs, Jeremy Garay (Ignacio Alem, 81’); Zoumana Diarra (Gaoussou Samake, 45’), Skage Lehland, Abdoul Zanne; Azaad Liadi (Kristian Fletcher, 70’)
Subs not used: Dane Jacoman, Matai Akinmboni, Isaac Espinal, Gavin Turner
Monterey Bay F.C. (4-2-3-1): Antony Siaha; Grant Robinson, Hugh Roberts, Kai Greene, Morey Doner; Hunter Gorskie, Mobi Fehr; Simon Dawkins (Sam Gleadle, 65’), Adrian Rebollar, Jason Johnson (Arun Basuljevic, 65’); Christian Volesky (Seku Conneh, 79’)
Subs not used: Carlos Herrera, Jiro Barriga Toyama, Jesse Maldonado, Chris Cortez
Stats Summary: LDN / MB
Shots: 9 / 14
Shots on Goal: 6 / 8
Saves: 7 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 10 / 15
Possession: 53.6% / 46.4%
Misconduct Summary:
LDN: Zoumana Diarra (caution) 29’
LDN: Abdoul Zanne (caution) 40’
MB: Hunter Gorskie (caution) 45+1’
LDN: Jacob Greene (caution) 90’
MB: Seku Conneh (caution) 90+4’
Officials:
Referee: Matt Thompson
Assistant Referee: Jeremy Smith
Assistant Referee: Albert Escovar
Fourth Official: Sharon Gingrich
