AUSTIN – San Antonio FC (3-0-1, 10 points) opened a three-game road trip with a 4-2 victory over Austin Bold FC (1-2-0, 3 points) at Bold Stadium on Saturday night behind a brace from Luis Solignac.
The victory is the second straight for San Antonio, who earned a 1-0 win over RGV FC last weekend. The win also puts SAFC up five points in the Group D standings over second-place OKC Energy FC.
“I think it was a fantastic win,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “Austin is a very good team, very well-coached and organized. At the end of the day, I’m really proud of my guys. They were committed – 95-plus minutes of intensity – and we got the job done.”
San Antonio started the scoring early with two goals in the span of four minutes. Solignac kicked things off as he took advantage of a missed clearance opportunity by Austin and beat goalkeeper Diego Restrepo to put the visiting side up a goal in the 23rd minute.
SAFC added to their lead four minutes later when Jose Gallegos fed Blake Smith, who slotted the ball home off his left boot to make it 2-0 in the 27th minute. Smith’s goal marks the first time San Antonio FC has scored two goals in a match this season after scoring just one in their first three.
Austin answered back just before halftime when midfielder Billy Forbes burned his old club as he beat Dwayne St. Claire with a shot to the right corner of the net, cutting the SAFC to 2-1 at the break.
The home side leveled things in the second half after SAFC defender Josh Yaro attempted to clear the ball but knocked into the San Antonio net, leveling the match at 2-2 in the 53rd minute.
From there, it was all San Antonio. Cristian Parano broke the tie in the 74th minute with a beautiful goal that went past diving Austin goalkeeper Diego Restrepo to put the visiting side up 3-2. The goal is the second of the season for Parano. Solignac would add his second goal of the night in the 84th minute to secure all three points for SAFC.
“It’s important to win on the road because it builds you up,” Solignac said. “We’re strong at home and being able to go on the road and get wins is crucial for our morale. We’re very happy, we’re working hard, we’re intense, and now we’ll rest happily.”
UP NEXT:
San Antonio FC is now 3-0-1 (10 points) on the season and will return to the pitch next Saturday when they face the OKC Energy (1-2-2) at 7 p.m. at Taft Stadium.
