SAFC earns second postseason win

SAFC held off San Diego in the second half for a 2-0 victory at Toyota Field in a Western Conference quarterfinal Friday night for its second playoff win in franchise history.

SAFC got its first score after Jose Gallegos drew a penalty in the 14th minute when San Diego's Collin Martin took him down outside the penalty box. Mohammed Abu sent in a penalty shot, floating a ball inside the box and Nathan Fogaca was able to head the ball into the back of the net to give San Antonio the lead in the 14th minute.

SAFC was not done quickly getting another shot on goal when Jose Gallegos got a breakaway and got a shot on goal that was deflected away by Austin Guerrero as SA looked to get its second goal early in the first half.

Santiago Patino gave SAFC a two-shot lead in the 25th minute heading in a ball that was bouncing around the six-yard box, slipping it into the right side of the goal. Mitch Taintor was the SA player that took the corner kick and sent it into the middle of the box.

In the 36th minute of the first half, Traintor was able to deflect a ball away at the goal line when San Diego's Alejandro Guido got a shot past Jordan Farr. Traintor was able to head the ball away that was heading towards the right post.

“Big players make big plays,” Marcina said of Taintor's save.

For the game, Marcina credited the team effort in keeping San Diego off the scoreboard.

Taintor got another score-saving tackle in the 64th minute fist pumping after taking down the SD attacker as the defense was fighting to keep a clean sheet for the third game in a row.

SAFC (15-8-10) awaits the winner of the Phoenix-Rio Grande Valley match.

The club's resilience was tested this season as players missed 110 total games with injuries. SAFC also worked through an August COVID-19

outbreak that led to the postponement of two matches, forcing San Antonio to play seven times in 22 days.

Though goalkeeper Matt Cardone was not available Friday after being injured in last week's 3-0 win over Colorado Springs, SAFC was otherwise healthy. Cardone tallied 99 saves this season for SAFC, a new team record.

San Antonio FC added goalkeeper Farr on an emergency loan from Indy Eleven, the club announced Thursday.

Farr got the start in goal for SAFC and made his first save off a penalty kick by San Diego's Augustine Williams on the right side of the penalty box.

Farr said the player and coaching staff set him up in a really good position to succeed.

“It is my first experience on a loan. I can't quantify how easy the transition felt. Everyone was welcoming and excited to have me here” Farr said.

Farr also was aided by his teammates who put up a solid line of defense against San Diego.

“Their willingness to put their bodies in front of shots gave me confidence,” said Farr.

Coming into the game, SAFC knew they would be tested by SD Loyal (14-13-6) emerging playmaker Williams, who had scored six goals in eight games since arriving on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. But the home team kept the offensive weapon neutralized, limiting him to one shot attempt on target. Williams' other two scoring shots failed to get near the goal.

Marcina said after the game the team has played with the motto, 11 players defend, 11 players attack, and it took that effort to pull off the first round win and send San Diego out of the playoffs.

San Diego is in their first postseason since joining th division in 2020. San Diego was winless coming into Friday's game with two draws against New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic and two losses against Orange County FC and Oakland Roots SC.