April 23, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – San Diego Loyal News Release
SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC extended its home undefeated streak with a 1-0 win against visiting Tampa Bay Rowdies Sunday in an afternoon match at Torero Stadium.
Adrien Perez scored the game-winner while 16-year-old goalkeeper Duran Ferree earned his first career shutout in USL Championship play for SD Loyal. The club earned its fourth straight home victory in 2023 as Head coach Nate Miller’s squad moved to 2-0 all-time against Tampa Bay.
Sunday’s match was the first of three for SD Loyal in seven days. Miller’s team heads to the Pacific Northwest Wednesday for a Third Round Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. The team will then return to San Diego for another league match as it will host El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday, April 29 (7 p.m.).
No stranger to a busy schedule, SD Loyal (4W-1L-2D, 14 points) relied on its depth to earn another three points in the Western Conference standings. Perez, Camden Riley and Ferree, who made his second start and third USL Championship appearance with the club, each stepped up in contributing to the win against last year’s Eastern Conference finalist.
Perez opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when he sent in a left-footed shot off Tampa Bay goalkeeper Connor Sparrow. Perez fired into the penalty area off a quick pass by Tumi Moshobane and Sparrow couldn’t stop the one-bounce attempt. It was Perez’ first goal in the USL Championship with SD Loyal in his third appearance with the club.
SD Loyal had other scoring chances including a Charlie Adams early first half bending shot off from the right corner of the penalty box that Sparrow had to slap over his crossbar. Ronaldo Damus nearly extended the SD Loyal lead when he flicked a ball past Sparrow and sent it off the inside of the left post but the ball ricocheted back into play in the 48th minute. Adams had another dangerous shot from the penalty box line in the 75th minute but Sparrow made the save, one of his five for the match.
SD Loyal’s busy week continues Wednesday as it travels to Seattle for its U.S. Open match before returning home to host El Paso Saturday night. Tickets to the upcoming home match from Torero Stadium are available now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SD – Adrien Perez (Tumi Moshobane), 42nd minute: Perez fired a left-footed shot that took a quick bounce and deflected off Tampa Bay goalkeeper Connor…