Sounders FC 2 (2-4-0, 6 points) fell 3-2 to San Antonio FC (5-0-1, 16 points) on Tuesday evening at Starfire Stadium. Defender Sam Rogers scored his first USL goal and First Team midfielder Zach Mathers converted a second-half penalty attempt, but conference-leading San Antonio FC left with three points on three goals. S2 returns to the road this weekend with a Saturday fixture at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (6:00 p.m. PT / Live-Streamed on SoundersFC.com).
San Antonio FC took an early lead with a goal in the 13th minute. Seattle goalkeeper Tyler Miller made a diving stop to his left, but San Antonio's Ben Newnam gathered the rebound and sent a low cross Akwafei Ajeakwa, who tallied the match's first goal from close range. The Texas side extended the lead in the 25th minute with a goal by dynamic midfielder Billy Forbes. Forbes received a flicked-on header for a free run into the area, where he pushed the ball past Miller for the 2-0 lead.
On the brink of halftime, First Team defender Nouhou Tolo left the match with a left shoulder injury. The 19-year-old joined S2 last season before inking an MLS contract prior to the 2017 campaign. Seattle's fortunes turned on the other side of halftime, though, as Rogers, the captain of the club's U-18 side, recorded his first USL goal in the 55th minute in his sixth appearance. Defender Brian Nana-Sinkam played a looping ball from 40 yards out that dropped squarely in San Antonio's area for Rogers. On one bounce, Rogers sent a right-footed volley to the far post and into the side netting.
The visitor pushed the lead to 3-1 in the 69th minute when Devin Vega received a pass from Wellington Pecka and sliced through Seattle's backline for an open look in front of the net. The midfielder scored for the club's third goal of the match.
After Seattle's Irvin Parra suffered a foul in the opposing area, Mathers converted his penalty-kick attempt with a powerful shot to the left side of the net. Mathers, a second-year pro out of Duke who signed a First Team contract in March, recorded his team-leading second goal of the season with the 75th minute strike.
Despite a late offensive push and outshooting San Antonio FC 14-6 on the evening, the Rave Green were unable to find the equalizer. U-16 forward Azriel Gonzalez made his USL debut in the 71st minute, but the prospect's first match was cut short after he was sent off for a sliding challenge one minute into second-half stoppage time. After a two-match homestand, Ezra Hendrickson's side visits Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |2 - 3| San Antonio FC
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Assistants: Jeffrey Hosking, Christian Clerc
Fourth Official: Jeff Arthurholtz
Attendance: 972
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SA - Akwafei Ajeakwa (Ben Newnam) 13'
SA - Billy Forbes 24'
SEA - Sam Rogers (Brian Nana-Sinkam) 55'
SA - Daniel Vega (Wellington Pecka) 69'
SEA - Zach Mathers (penalty) 75'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SA - Zachary Herivaux (caution) 16'
SA - Greg Cochrane (caution) 28'
SEA - Zach Mathers (caution) 52'
SA - Sebastian Ibeagha (caution) 61'
SEA - Denso Ulysse (caution) 72'
SEA - Irvin Parra (caution) 81'
SA - Cesar Elizondo (caution) 90'
SEA - Azriel Gonzalez (ejection) 90'+1'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Tyler Miller; Henry Wingo (Denso Ulysse 60'), Sam Rogers, Riley Grant, Nouhou Tolo (Brian Nana-Sinkam 45'); Ray Saari, Lorenzo Ramos, Zach Mathers, Shandon Hopeau, David Olsen (Azriel Gonzalez 72'); Irvin Parra
Substitutes Not Used: Bryan Meredith, Denso Ulysse, Milo Barton, Francisco Narbon
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 7
Corner-kicks: 7
Saves: 2
San Antonio FC - Diego Restrepo; Ben Newnam, Sebastian Ibeagha, Ryan Roushandel, Greg Cochrane; Juan Nino (Wellington Pecka 56'), Zach Herivaux, Max Rodriguez, Rafa Castillo, Billy Forbes (Devin Vega 45'); AJ Ajeakwa (Cesar Elizondo 65')
Substitutes Not Used: Lee Johnson, Stephen McCarthy, Shawn Chin, Aly Hassan
Total shots: 6
Shots on goal: 5
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 4
