558 Minute Shutout Streak Ends to Penalty, Union Fall 1-0 in San Diego

August 11, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release

SAN DIEGO, California – Monterey Bay F.C. (8-12-2, 26 points) fell 1-0 to San Diego Loyal SC (15-5-4, 49 points) at Torero Stadium. Charlie Adams converted a penalty for San Diego in the second half to secure the win for the home side.

San Diego earned the first good chance of the match in the 19th minute. A shot towards the far post for Loyal FC was saved by a diving effort from Antony Siaha to keep the hosts on the board early. Breaking down the left side of the pitch in the 23rd minute, San Diego sent a cross into the box, but the right-footed shot missed over the crossbar. Monterey Bay F.C. got involved in the 25th minute with a give-and-go between Sam Gleadle and Chris Cortez. Cortez threaded the needle towards Gleadle on the left side of the 18-yard-box, but his shot at the near post was saved. The Union earned a corner in the 42nd minute. James Murphy picked out Cortez making a run across the box after shaking free from the San Diego defense, but his header just missed over the top of the crossbar and the sides entered the halftime break scoreless.

Four minutes into the second half, Gleadle intercepted a pass in a dangerous area deep in the opponent’s half. He took a dribble towards goal, but the nearest San Diego defender was able to recover from behind to clear the ball away. In the 59th minute, a cross inside the box took a deflection off the outstretched arm of Grant Robinson and Loyal SC were awarded a penalty. Adams converted to give the home side the 1-0 lead and end the Union’s shutout streak at 558 minutes. Second-half substitutes Christian Volesky and Simon Dawkins combined to create some positive action forward for Monterey Bay. Dawkins’ touch brought the ball back to the feet of Volesky, the ball was then flicked away by a defender toward Gleadle, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Following an extended stretch of possession for the Crisp and Kelp, Morey Doner whipped a ball into the box toward Gleadle again, and again his shot was knocked down by the keeper and cleared away by a defender in the 78th minute. Pushing to equalize, the Union earned a throw-in deep down the right sideline in the 7th minute of added time, but the ensuing shot was saved and the match ended 1-0 in favor of the hosts.

Notes:

– 19-year-old midfielder Jesse Maldonado earned his first professional start for Monterey Bay F.C. in the match.

– Monterey Bay’s shutout…