Charlie Adams and Evan Conway score while Duran Ferree keeps clean sheet
SAN DIEGO (April 5, 2023) – San Diego Loyal SC advanced to the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win against Albion San Diego Wednesday night at the SDSU Sports Deck.
Charlie Adams and Evan Conway scored for SD Loyal in the Second Round match of the historic national tournament pairing teams from all levels of play in the country. Head Coach Nate Miller’s team earned its second win in the competition against Albion of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA). SD Loyal will now await its next opponent as U.S. Soccer will hold a draw for Third Round pairings tomorrow afternoon. SD Loyal reached the Third Round in 2022 after beating Albion 2-1 last year, ultimately losing on the road to Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy.
In front of a packed and loud crowd Wednesday night against Albion, SD Loyal opened up the scoring with Adams’ goal. The team captain converted a penalty kick to the lower right corner of the Albion net in the 25th minute for the 1-0 lead. Midfielder Xavi Gnaulati was taken down from behind by Albion’s Ernest Mitchell in the area as the 18-year-old Loyal Select product made a run towards goal, prompting a whistle to earn the penalty kick.
Conway extended the SD Loyal lead in the 52nd minute with a shot near the Albion goal line. Conway closed in on a cross by Adrien Perez who sped up the left flank off a pin-point pass by Gnaulati. Conway hit it in with his left foot past Albion goalkeeper Benjamin Roach for the 2-0 lead and his second U.S. Open Cup goal with SD Loyal.
Teenagers Gnaulati (18), defender Jackson Simba (19) and goalkeeper Duran Ferree (16) made the start for SD Loyal. Duran, an Under-17 U.S. National Team member, made a handful of saves while keeping the shutout.
SD Loyal returns to USL Championship play at Torero Stadium Saturday, April 8 (2 p.m.), when it hosts Eastern Conference foe FC Tulsa. Tickets start at just $15 and are available now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
SD – Charlie Adams, 25th minute: Adams converted a penalty kick to the lower right corner of the Albion net. SD 1, ALB 0
SD – Evan Conway (Adrien Perez), 52nd minute: Conway sent in a Perez cross from left to right for the second goal of the night. SD 2, ALB 0
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Evan Conway scored his second U.S. Open Cup goal with SD Loyal.
- SD Loyal started three teenagers: Duran Ferree (16), Xavi Gnaulati (18) and Jackson Simba (19).
- Duran Ferree made his first U.S. Open Cup appearance and finished with a shutout.
