May 13, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release
SALINAS, California – Monterey Bay F.C. 2 (2-0-0, 6 points) defeated Marin F.C. Legends (0-1-0, 0 points) 5-2 at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas. Taking the 1-0 lead into the break, MBFC2 exploded with a four-goal second half behind a game-winning brace from Miguel Guerrero and goals from Hugo Vargas, Anthony Orendain, and a third score of the season from Willy Miranda.
MBFC2 began the match well with an early shot from Pierce Gallaway from long range, but it sailed over the bar. MBFC2 then continued to apply early pressure on the Marin F.C. Legends to begin the match. Miranda was through on goal on the right side, but his touch was too heavy and the ball was collected by the goalkeeper. Los Dos continued to control the match in the 10th minute. Ramiro Corrales Jr. put a low cross into the box for Miranda, who unluckily took a wayward touch in space and lost possession before he had a chance to get a shot off. The visitors began to find their footing later in the half, which led to Corrales Jr. conceding a foul on the left edge of the 18-yard box. The ensuing set piece did not trouble the goalkeeper, but ten minutes later in the 25th minute a cross into the area was coolly collected by Fabian Narez, testing the goalkeeper for the first time.
MBFC2’s quality began to show, beginning with a smart through ball by Vargas. He found the run of Guerrero, who was able to finish smartly into the bottom left corner for the 1-0 lead. Just minutes later, the crossbar rattled twice in two minutes as both Vargas and Miranda had shots denied by the woodwork. Los Dos continued to threaten, and in the 35th minute Guerrero sent a curling shot from inside the box just wide of the far post. Six minutes from halftime, Alexis Sanchez played a long through ball for Miranda on the left flank, who fought through two defensive challenges and was unlucky to shoot just over the bar.
The second half began slowly, but it would only take one goal to open the floodgates. A miscontrolled ball by the Marin F.C. Legends defense in the 57th minute allowed Vargas to pounce. The midfielder won possession and tapped the ball around the keeper to set up an easy finish into an open net, stretching the lead to 2-0. Marin F.C. Legends were able to get one back just two minutes later, thanks to a low curling finish into the far right corner to bring the match to 2-1. Amazingly, only a minute after that, Guerrero…