Thomas Amang scores twice in 2-2 draw; Club returns home June 11 vs. Hartford Athletic
HARRISON, N.J. (June 2, 2022) – San Diego Loyal SC finished its three-match road trip with a 2-2 draw against host New York Red Bulls II with a pair of second half goals by Thomas Amang Thursday at Red Bull Arena.
Amang scored in the 50th and 88th minute of the Week 13 USL Championship match as Red Bulls II couldn’t survive a late SD Loyal surge despite standout saves by its goalkeeper AJ Marcucci. This was the third consecutive road match for SD Loyal, who has not played at home since April 16. Coach Landon Donovan’s team returns to San Diego salvaging a point as it heads into a four-match home stand in June after four-straight matches on the road without a win.
SD Loyal (6W-3L-4D, 22 points) rallied in the second half of its first trip to New Jersey and its first meeting against Red Bulls II (1W-10L-2D, 5 points). A handful of dangerous attacks paid off to equalize a match in which SD Loyal trailed 2-0 early, playing 2,700 miles away from home.
Amang, a second half substitute, first cut the New York lead in half when he sent in a header that was passed to him off the head of Alejandro Guido. SD Loyal Captain Charlie Adams sent a long cross to Guido to help set up the scoring opportunity.
Thirty eight minutes later, and with just two minutes remaining in regulation, Amang buried the equalizer when he put back a blocked Nick Moon shot in the penalty box.
Caden Clark (16th minute) and Sam Williams (24th minute) each found the back of the net for Red Bulls II, who entered the match at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Clark beat SD Loyal goalkeeper Koke Vegas with a right-footed shot from just outside the top of the penalty box. Jonathan Felipe fed Clark a through ball off an SD Loyal turnover to set up the scoring play and give New York an early 1-0 lead.
Williams doubled the Red Bulls II lead with a left-footed goal from just inside the penalty box, in front of a group of SD Loyal defenders. Jeremy Rafanello got the assist on the scoring play for the home side. SD Loyal now travels home to host Hartford Athletic in a much anticipated home match on Saturday, June 11 at Torero Stadium. Tickets are on sale now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
NY – Caden Clark (Jonathan Felipe), 16th minute: Clark sent a shot from just outside the penalty box to beat Koke Vegas. NY 1, SD 0
NY – Sam Williams (Jeremy Rafanello), 24th minute: Williams fires a left-footed shot in front of defenders for his first professional goal and a 2-0 lead. NY 2, SD 0
SD – Thomas Amang (Alejandro Guido), 50th minute: Amang jumps and scores off a header on a ball headed to him by Guido. NY 2, SD 1
SD – Thomas Amang (Nick Moon), 88th minute: Amang puts back a Nick Moon blocked shot to the left of NY goalkeeper AJ Marcucci. NY 2, SD 2
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- SD Loyal have scored six goals via substitutes this season, most in the USL Championship.
- Thomas Amang scored his third and fourth goals of the season.
- SD Loyal attempted 19 shots in the match, the highest single-match total this season.
