SA Soccer

Transactions 

Rece Buckmaster transferred from Hartford Athletic on 7/15, bolstering wing/full back ranks

86 clearances, 114 interceptions, 2g, 5a in 55 apps with Memphis in 2022-23

Marcina praises 1v1 defending and skill in tight spaces

SAFC Alumni

Gallegos and Sonderjyske return to the Superliga on Sunday, away to Silkeborg

Tani Oluwaseyi and Canada reached Copa America semis and only lost on PKs…so they’re the fourth-best team in South America now

Sam Adeniran transferred to Philadelphia Union

Sebastien Ibeagha wins Copa Tejas for FC Dallas over Austin FC on Wednesday, prevents Austin from becoming first team to three-peat

SAFC 2-1 Phoenix Rising (7/6)

Injury availability report: No changes - Solignac, Silva, Omar, Manley

39’ Hernandez free kick swung in from left finds Agudelo on the right side of the box and he volleys it back across goal and in

58’ Dariusz Formella cross from the right find the head of Fede Varela in the box and his header arcs over the reach of Sisniega and into the top left corner

81’ After Hernandez brought down inside left corner of the box, Agudelo converts PK to give SAFC a lead it held onto

Agudelo finding rhythm, good relationship with Hernandez

Finally snapped the losing streak, even if it wasn’t the best performance against a team that had just changed coaches and is overall embroiled in chaos

SAFC 2-4 Deportivo Saprissa (7/13)

Injury/availability report: Silva and Omar still there, Solignac and Manley available again for 15 minutes before planned substitutions

13’ Mbongue shot off post then defender and in for own goal - literally video evidence, don’t @ me

21’ Sisniega mistakes gives ball to Ulises Segura and he dribbles into left side of box and smashes it in - per Chris Hockman, he scored for Saprissa against Scorpions in 2014 and now against SAFC in 2024

66’ Bryce Tober squared ball from left side of box which Miguel Fuertes controlled and slotted into the bottom right corner ot give SAFC 2-1 lead again

Two Saprissa cutbacks from left side of box and brilliant free kick closed out match for Saprissa with SAFC playing the kids

SAFC travels to Orange County SC (7/20)

SAFC beat the team that succeeded it as champion, can it beat the team that preceded it?

Around the horn USL Championship

Results 

USLC Western Standings

Final Thoughts

Transactions 

Nelson Flores Blanco brought in June 14, transfer from North Carolina FC, wing back Multi Year Deal

Jose Mulato announced on June 27 returned to FC Dallas then Transferred to Serbian SuperLiga Spartak Subotica! (9 games 1 start 234 minutes No goals/assists)

International callups: Kevon Lambert (JAM) came back for one match then went back for Copa America…and kept the bench warm. (Could return for SAFC/PHX match?)

SAFC Alumni Not Covering 

Patiño up to three goals with Ho Chi Minh City, still midtable

Tani called up to Copa, what has he done?

Something with Sam..?

SAFC 2-3 New Mexico United

SAFC at Mid Season

17 games: 4W 5D 8L -4 GD

 5 game losing streak

Last 10 1W 2D 7L

Top Goal Scorer Juan Agudelo 5G 2A; Jorge Hernandez1G 6A

4 Academy Kids (Garza, Walker, Fernandez and Padilla) rcvd 1st team USLC minutes

Lost Mohammed Abu and Patino right at the start of the season, Mulato more recently

Additions since start of season: Macshop Chol F, LaCava and Flores Blanco

SAFC Grades

Front Office  

Technical Staff

Players

Gameday Experiences (aka Toyota Field) 

SAFC Hosts PHX Rising

 Danny Stone parted ways after 5-1 loss to Memphis, 5-6-6 record in his time as head coach this year, assistant coach Diego Gómez steps in on interim basis

Two most recent champions are struggling…

Second time SAFC playing interim coach (Oakland Roots 05/04 2-2 draw)

Final Thoughts

Around the horn USL Championship

Results 

USLC Western Standings

International callups: Shannon Gomez (T&T), Bura Nogueira (Guinea-Bissau), Kevon Lambert (JAM), Machop Chol (South Sudan)...Mohamed Omar (Somalia) and Trova Boni (Burkina Faso) also called up but withdrew for injuries

Marcina has promised a few summer signings…and we got one Monday! Jake LaCava transferred from Charleston Battery on multi-year deal, 26g, 18a, 115apps in USLC with NYRBII, Rowdies and Battery, 2022 YPotY finalist, winger who can play centrally

SAFC Alumni

Patiño up to three goals with Ho Chi Minh City, still midtable

Gallegos and Sønderjyske finished season Sunday with 1-1 draw, having won league championship

Tani keeps scoring for MNUFC - 7g, 4a in 15 apps this season  Tani called up to Canada MNT

Nathan scored against Houston last night, first goal of season in 10 apps

Injury report: Manley, Mbongue, Solignac, Taintor and Haakenson still there…Silva added, plus Sisniega after playing on after injury scare Saturday, then Windbichler comes off during match

2’ Augustine Williams fires in deflected cross which McIntosh gets a hand on but can’t keep out

10’ a few players pass up chances before Jack Blake buries it from middle of box

SAFC grew into match and created a few chances but could’t get a goal back

With academy players coming on and likes of Hernandez, Lambert and Agudelo coming off, you knew SAFC had moved on and just rolled the dice in the last 30 minutes

SAFC 1-1 Las Veags Lights

Injury report: Manley, Mbongue, Solignac, Sisniega, Silva still there, Windbichler added…but Taintor and Haakenson back

45’+ - Chol shoots from top of box and it was a tame shot but the goalkeeper couldn’t get down quickly enough (Mark Ellis had a fun take on it)

48’ Hernandez sent off with two quick YCs, first was a bad tackle from behind, second for dissent after a soft foul

59’ terrible giveaway, Noel volleys in after squared ball from right

New Mexico 2-1 SAFC

Injury report: Solignac, Sisniega, Silva, Windbichler still there, Boni added and Taintor a late addition after a freak injury the day before, Omar a late addition after injury late in warmups…Manley, Mbongue available again

21’ Lambert lob, Haakenson heads back across goal to open scoring

35’ Houssou Landry alone in center of box to poke home after Greg Hurst did hard work to sneak through along the endline and cut the ball back

45’+ Hurst with a rocket as the ball fell to him outside the top of the box…started with long kick from GK Alex Tambakis, brought down by Dayonn Harris and he quickly plays it into Hurst’s path

SAFC 3W-3D-2L when scoring first after this match, scoring first goal not always a guarantee this season

SAFC 1-0 Memphis 901 FC

Injury report: Solignac, Sisniega, Silva, Boni, Omar still there,Taintor and Windbichler back

26’ Lacey makes run on right wing, plays it near-post for Agudelo flick - they literally had money riding on it

McIntosh with four saves, a couple late clearances for first clean sheet in over a month and first with McIntosh, first shutout in over two months

SAFC v. El Paso Locomotive

Cabrera makes it seem more Copa Tejas-y - 1W-4D-4L in longer stint with Toros, we don’t count 2016

SAFC at FC Tulsa

H2H Tulsa 5 Wins 4 Draws SAFC 8 Wins However in Tulsa  Last 5 SAFC is 0-4-1 

Transactions 

N/A

SAFC Alumni

Gallegos and Sønderjyske clinched promotion with 2-1 home win against Fredericia, four matches to go as they chase league title, Aalborg six points back with match in hand

Tani scores again for MNUFC - literally get to just leave this on here from last week, scored a few off the bench and has been given three straight starts, scored each time…five goals total, about one every 70 minutes of playing time

SAFC 2-2 Oakland Roots

Injury report: Manley, Mbongue, Solignac still on there…Taintor and Haakenson added…and Silva came off in first half - not the best week for this!

Quiet first half…Chol puts in in 9’ but ruled offside, closer than it looks

65’ Miche-Naider Chery goal after Gomez turned inside out on left side of box, Chery rises to head it in for 1-0

73’ Bura’s pinpoint cross from left lands in front of goal and Agudelo redirects it nicely to tie things at 1-1

79’ corner repelled but Hernandez recycles it and lofts ball into box for Lambert, who reached it just before GK Blanchette and it loops in

82’ Lambert handball concedes PK - perhaps harsh, but referee sees it from angle that made it look worse…84’ Johnny Rodriguez smashes PK into top left corner

TotW: Hernandez, Bura (bench)

Around the horn USL Championship scores

Results 

USLC Western Standings

Indy Eleven v. SAFC (USOC) preview

ML-Yes?

How much does SAFC rotate? McIntosh but otherwise only two senior players on bench (perhaps three with Silva), then academy…not sure they play on the road

Indy two straight wins, including one on the road agaisnt Monterey Bay…hard to suss out form

Both teams tied fourth in USLC with 14 goals, but Indy has also conceded the second-most goals with 17 (one third of those came from LIPAFC on CBS though)

Should we mention MLS Next AC River in San Antonio?

Final Thoughts

Transactions 

N/A

SAFC Alumni

Gallegos and Sønderjyske nearly clinched promotion, needs a single point from next match against team in third place. 

Tani scores again for MNUFC

Ibeagha scores insurance goal in Texas Derby

Miami FC 2-1 SAFC

Injury report: Manley, Mbongue, Solignac…plus Taintor came off early

11’ Sensational strike from Haakenson, Hernandez with cross for first assist since start of season

Luisinho 24’ tap-in, Michael Lawrence 45’ shot from wide right…both off long balls, rough on Sisniega for the first, perhaps should have done better on second?

Taintor off injured after about 20 minutes…any coincidence both goals came from that side after Boni shifted over? Does Windbichler start next match? Who will be captain (Lambert was captain after Taintor came off injured)?

Around the horn USL Championship scores

Results 

USLC Western Standings

SAFC-Oakland Roots preview

Battle of the former USMNT Strikers

New coach, Gavin Glinton, that’ll be an interesting wrinkle

Conceded 14 goals, fourth most in league, no clean sheets

GK Paul Blanchette has made second-most saves with 27…lots of parallels to Miami match

Should we mention MLS Next AC River in San Antonio?

Final Thoughts

Transactions 

(unless Matt has something to say about Abu or Chol)

SAFC Alumni

Jose 3 points from Promotion

Tani and MNUFC

Hartford Athletic 1-3 SAFC

Injury report: Manley, Mbongue - but no Solignac for the first time

Early Chol goal, Epps equalizes later in first half on long ball, late own goal and even later PK from Solignac give SAFC win

Tale of injury comebacks for both Chol and Solignac

Team of the Week: Hernandez

Around the horn USL Championship scores

Results 

USLC Western Standings

Miami FC - SAFC preview

Four straight losses for MIA, sitting at the bottom of the East

Conceded the second-most goals with 14, average of two per match

GK Daniel Gagliardi leads league with 25 saves, defense letting chances get through

El Clásico Regio at the Alamodome

Final Thoughts

Transactions 

Mo Abu retiring - surprise to team

Machop Chol Signed - working back fitness, figuring out how he fits into the team as well, a few weeks away

SAFC Alumni

Santiago Patiño and HCMCFC

Big Sam drama at STLCFC

Josh Yaro and STLCFC

Tani and MNUFC

Rida and FCM

Jack Lynn and OCSC

Nacho

DiRenzo

US Open Cup Draw

SAFC @ Indy 11 May ⅞7/8, 6pm CT (7 ET)

Who’s left in tournament (quick overview)

Injury Report: Solignac

Result 2-1 (Manley bike, Lambert late winner

Team of the Week: Taintr for assist, Hernandez on bench

SAFC vs Las Vegas - first loss against LV since 2019

Injury Report: Solignac

Result 0-1

Team of the Week

SAFC vs Orange County

Injury Report: Lucho, Manley, Mbongue

Result 0-0 - better chances but no finishes, Boni start in place of Manley

Team of the Week

Around the horn USL Championship scores

Results 

USLC Western Standings

SAFC vs Hartford AthleticUnited quick preview

Chol mentioned implementing a few things in training to increase chances of scoring, emtnioned getting into different areas with better chances…but also said some of it comes down to belief and hunger

Liga MX in Alamodome?

Final Thoughts

Royce’s Final Thoughts BBQ raised over $18K for SABGC

Transactions 

Santiago Patiño transferred to Ho Chi Minh City FC; Vietnamese first division for undisclosed amount. (I have people researching this amount) His salary is reportedly $10,000/month. SAFC bought Santi this last time from Avai for $100K in August 2023

SAFC Alumni

Santiago Patiño scored in first friendly match with HCMCFC. First league game is Sunday March 31st at 6am. They’re 7th/14 teams; 18 points in 13 games; 9 points over last place team.

Josh Yaro scored his first MLS goal for STLCFC

First SønderjyskE promotion playoff match 30 March vs 

USL Introduces Young Player Sporting Inititive https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1305218 

SAFC vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks

Injury Report: Lucho

Goals: Lucas Silva 75 minute (A to Hugo) 90+1 Hugo (A to Swagadelo)

Key Plays/Moments: Missed PK (Agudelo 36th )

Only 2 Subs? Abu for Omar 62nd and Hugo for Lacey 68th? Thin bench or just playing well?  

Marcina: “I’m also extremely proud of the players for understanding this game required some patience with Colorado sitting back. Because we had so much time on the ball, we could get impatient, start forcing things (but) we didn’t, so that shows a lot of maturity from the players.” With SAFC focusing more on possession, will teams sitting back become a problem, particularly at home?

Team of the Week :Lucas Silva MF Coach Alen Marcina   Bench Pablo Sisniega

Around the horn USL Championship scores

Results 

USLC Western Standings

SAFC vs Monterey Bay FC 

MBFC 1-0-2  with +1 GD (beat Rising 1-0, draws vs @ELP 1-1 RIFC 2-2) 

SAFC Home Regular Season Struggles (18 games) 7 wins 10 draws 1 Loss (2 times have had  5 draws out of 6 home matches (04-08-2023 06-10-2023  08-19-23 to present Home Opener) 

H2H MB: 1 Wins 2 Draws 5 SAFC Wins At Toyota Field 3 Wins 1 Draw (Last time in SAFC was a Draw ) 

  Tristan Trager 2 goals Alex Dixon 1 assist Movie Fehr has the most shots on target for MBFC

Final Thoughts

Royce’s Final Thoughts BBQ

Harry’s USL Super League and Championship club in discussions with Roswell GA (ATL) also Brooklyn going to USLC instead of L1