March 24, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Monterey Bay FC News Release
SEASIDE, California – Monterey Bay F.C. (1-0-2, 5 points) drew 2-2 with Eastern Conference side and league newcomers Rhode Island FC (0-0-2, 2 points) on Sunday Fun Day at Cardinale Stadium in Week 3 of the 2024 USL Championship regular season. The Crisp-and-Kelp battled back from two different deficits behind a first half goal from Carlos Guzmán – his first goal for the Union – and a second half goal from Tristan Trager to earn a point at home.
As per usual so far this season, the Union came out aggressive and earned an opportunity at goal in the opening minute of the match. A turnover created by Adrian Rebollar resulted in a curling shot by Mobi Fehr, but it was caught by the goalkeeper. Rhode Island took a chance on frame in the 13th minute with a shot by Conor McGlynn from the top of the box, but the attempt was scooped up by Antony Siaha. Rebollar fired off a shot of his own from a bit of distance, but it missed wide of the left post. Then a minute later, Monterey Bay looked to score the opener off the right-foot of Alex Dixon, but the goal was disallowed for offsides in the 21st minute. A cross into the box by Dixon in the 23rd minute looked dangerous, but Rafa Baca and Luther Archimède were unable to get on the end of it. In the 30th minute, the visitors looked likely to put one in against the run of play, but Albert Dikwa’s shot from the six-yard box was blocked away by Kai Greene. Then in the 42nd minute, Rhode Island found the breakthrough goal with a shot by Dikwa that snuck under Siaha’s legs to put the visitors up 1-0. With less than a minute to play in the half, Monterey Bay earned a set piece on the right corner of the box. Walmer Martínez crossed the ball right into the heart of the box towards Guzmán, who tapped the ball into the bottom left corner of the net to bring the level at one goal apiece at the halftime break.
Dikwa struck again in the 63rd minute when a cross into the Union’s six-yard box was met with a scramble that allowed the league’s top goalscorer from last season to pounce and retake the lead for the visitors. Then in the 72th minute, second-half substitute Chase Boone intercepted the ball deep in Rhode Island territory and played Fehr down the right sideline. Fehr then crossed the ball into the box from the endline and found Trager for the tap in equalizer – his second goal of the season. Monterey Bay continued its aggressive play in…