Collier sends in 85th minute game-winner in first-of-three straight road matches
MIAMI (May 20, 2023) – San Diego Loyal SC traveled more than 2,600 miles across the country to begin a three-match road trip and it kicked off the stretch with a dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind win against Miami FC Saturday.
Evan Conway and Elliot Collier scored while Miami FC gave up an own goal in the USL Championship match at Florida International University Football Stadium. Head Coach Nate Miller’s team endured a hard-fought match in humid weather conditions to earn three points in the Western Conference standings against the Eastern Conference club.
It was SD Loyal’s first trip to South Florida and first-ever meeting against Miami FC in its first of three-straight road matches this month. SD Loyal now begins preparations for its next match at Oakland Roots SC on May 27. It will then fly to Texas to face San Antonio FC on June 3.
Against Miami FC Saturday, the homeside looked dangerous in the attacking third early on. Miami eventually found the net in the 16th minute off an unfortunate play for SD Loyal. Grant Stoneman was trying to intercept a forward pass by Miami’s Michael Salazar when the ball came off the defender and floated backwards over goalkeeper Koke Vegas and into the SD Loyal net.
Conway leveled the scoreboard at 1-1 when he tapped in a ball from inside the six-yard box in the 40th minute. For his fourth goal of 2023, Conway charged on to the box to put back an Alejandro Guido shot blocked by Miami goalkeeper Jake McGuire. Elijah Martin filtered a ball between defenders into the penalty area to set Guido up for his shot attempt from the right side of the box.
Kyle Murphy gave Miami a 2-1 advantage 16 minutes into the second half on a breakaway. Murphy took a rolling pass from Callum Chapman-Page and sprinted upfield, beating SD Loyal defender Kyle Adams before firing a right-footed shot past Vegas. The scoring play began on the Miami side of the pitch when SD Loyal was pressuring with its own attack and paused after assuming Nick Moon was fouled just outside the penalty area. Instead, there was no whistle blown and Chapman-Page quickly played the ball up to Murphy to start the counterattack.
SD Loyal tied the match 2-2 with an own goal by team captain Craig Paco as Conway sent a pass across the penalty area. It is then when Paco attempted to intercept the pass but sent the ball into his own net instead to tie the match in the 81st minute.
Four minutes later, Elliot Collier, a second-half sub for SD Loyal, sent in a left-footed blast to give the visitors their first lead of the match. The forward fired a one-timer off a Blake Bodily botched shot that made its way across the area, sending the ball past McGuire for the game-winning goal.
With Oakland Roots SC (May 27) and San Antonio FC (June 3) next on the three week road series, SD Loyal will make its return to Torero Stadium on Friday, June 9 to take on Sacramento Republic FC (7 p.m.). Tickets to the upcoming home match are available now at sdloyal.com/tickets.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
MIA – Grant Stoneman (Own Goal), 16th minute: A ball deflected off Stoneman and into his own net off a pass by Miami FC’s Michael Salazar. MIA 1, SD 0
SD – Evan Conway, 40th minute: Conway put back an Alejandro Guido blocked shot from near the six-yard box to tie the game. MIA 1, SD 1
MIA – Kyle Murphy (Callum Chapman-Page), 61st minute: Murphy fired a right-footed shot off a pass by Chapman-Page on a counter attack. MIA 2, SD 1
SD – Craig Paco (Own Goal), 81st minute: Paco sent a ball into his own net as Evan Conway tried to pass the ball across the area. MIA 2, SD 2
SD – Elliot Collier (Blake Bodily), 85th minute: Collier blasts a left-footed shot past McGuire off a ball from Bodily. MIA 2, SD 3
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Evan Conway scored his fourth USL Championship goal and fifth overall this season.
- Elliot Collier scored his first goal of the season.
- Blake Bodily recorded his second assist of the season.
- SD Loyal earned three points after conceding the opening goal for the first time in the USL Championship since July 31, 2022 against Orange County SC.
Palomar Health Man of the Match: Evan Conway
