The defense for San Antonio FC has been on fire so far in the 2017 season. The club currently owns the second spot in the Western Conference table, a clear 13 points ahead of third place. SAFC’s defense is a major reason for that, which has been the backbone of the club.
In the 13 matches played this season, SAFC has only conceded just four goals. Goalkeeper Diego Restrepo earned his seventh consecutive clean sheet in eight starts for the injured Matt Cardone in Saturday’s 0-0 draw in Oklahoma City.
“It’s good to keep getting clean sheets and giving our team a chance to earn at least a point every match,” he said. It’s great to continue recording shutouts but the important thing is to come away with results, and now we just have to keep improving.”
Restrepo’s solid play in goal may present SAFC Head Coach Darren Powell with a tough decision once Cardone is healthy. Do you continue to ride the hot play of Restrepo or do you go back to your starter in net?
“We have the good fortune of watching him in practice every day so there’s no surprise on our end, but tonight he grew again as a goalkeeper and we’ve got the best of Diego Restrepo to see,” Powell said after last month’s home game against Sacramento.
It may be too early to see what Powell will do. Whatever decision he makes SAFC will be in good hands. Both are now experienced in net under pressure situations.
And that’s dangerous for any team facing the Silver and Black in the months to come.
