MBFC2 Defeats San Francisco City 2-1 in Inaugural Home Opener at Rabobank Stadium
by Isabella Ultsch
SALINAS, California (Saturday, May 6, 2023) – Monterey Bay F.C. 2 (1-0-0, 3 points) earned the full three points in their USL League Two season opener with a 2-1 win over San Francisco City (0-1-0, 0 points) at Rabobank Stadium. Salinas native and Alisal High School alum Willy Miranda bagged a brace in the club’s season-opening match, including the first regular-season goal in team history in the first half and the eventual game-winner in the second.
MBFC2 controlled possession to start the match and created a few early chances. The first chance was a cross from the right side of the pitch by Jose Madrigal to Miguel Guerrero, but they could not connect on the final touch. San Francisco City FC had an early chance of their own, but it was defended well by goalkeeper Fabian Narez to keep the visitors off the board. In the 24th minute, Madrigal began a counter-attack with Miranda alongside him that led to a foul in the box and the referee pointing to the spot. Miranda stepped up to the spot and capitalized to score the opening goal of the match.
A few minutes later, SFC would score a goal of their own via a corner kick in the 32nd minute. MBFC2 continued to put the pressure on SFC with four additional shots on target before the end of the first half, but the visitors managed to deny each opportunity. The second half began with the sides tied up at 1-1, but MBFC2 changed that in the 55th minute of the match. The SFC goalkeeper dribbled out to the edge of the 18-yard-box when Miranda took the ball off his feet and fired it around him and into the empty net from distance with a right-footed blast to record his second goal of the night and the eventual game-winner as the match ended 2-1 in favor of MBFC2 in a great start to the team’s inaugural 2023 campaign.
Match: Monterey Bay F.C. 2 vs San Francisco City FC
Date: May 6, 2023
Venue: Rabobank Stadium; Salinas, California
Weather: Mostly Cloudy and 60 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Monterey Bay F.C. 2 1 1 2
San Francisco City 1 0 1
MB2: Willy Miranda 24’
SFC: 32’
MB2: Willy Miranda 55’
