October 2, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – San Diego Loyal News Release
IRVINE, Calif. – San Diego Loyal SC secured second place in the Western Conference with a 2-2 draw against Orange County SC Saturday night at Championship Soccer Stadium. Thomas Amang and Jack Blake helped earn the milestone against the Southern California rival in the Week 30 USL Championship match.
SD Loyal earned another point in the standings in front of a few busloads of fans who traveled to support their club. The win added to SD Loyal’s historic season as it heads into the postseason for the second-consecutive year. Coach Landon Donovan’s team had already secured a home playoff match coming into Saturday but clinching second place in the conference was the next goal.
Against Orange County Saturday, SD Loyal (18W-9L, 5D, 62 points) opened up the scoring when Amang netted his 10th goal of the season. The Cameroonian striker fired a right-footed shot past Orange County goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky off a delicious Blake pass between a pair of defenders to give SD Loyal a 1-0 lead.
The early lead lasted until Orange County (7W-13L-12D, 33 points) striker Milan Iloski found the net in the 44th minute. The USL Championship golden boot leader sent a right-footed volley into the lower corner of the net, beating SD Loyal goalkeeper Koke Vegas to tie the match 1-1.
The deadlock lasted until Blake smashed a free kick opportunity into the net in the 53rd minute for his third goal of the season to give SD Loyal a 2-1 lead. The Englishman bent a right-footed ball over the Orange County wall and into the net. It was Blake’s second free kick conversion of the season, coming from 20-yards out.
Orange County, who had been eliminated from playoff contention, pushed forward in the final minutes and found the equalizer with a Brian Iloski goal in the 90th minute.
Donovan’s team returns to Torero Stadium to prepare for its final home match of the regular season, and Fan Appreciation Day celebration, on Sunday, Oct. 9 (7 p.m.) against Western Conference rival New Mexico United. Tickets to Fan Appreciation Day as well as SD Loyal’s first-ever first-round playoff match taking place on a TBD date the weekend of Oct. 21-23 are on sale now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
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