Jamaican international Kevon Lambert proved to be the hero as San Antonio FC extended their unbeaten streak in the United Soccer League, securing a 2-1 victory over Monterey Bay on Saturday night at Toyota Field.
In a tightly contested match, Lambert’s late strike in the 86th minute sealed the win for the hosts, maintaining their flawless start to the season with two wins and two draws in the Western Conference.
The game remained deadlocked heading into full time until Lambert capitalized on a loose ball following a set piece, slotting home the decisive goal and sending the home crowd into raptures.
Early-season resilience
San Antonio FC’s victory marked their second consecutive win after a 2-0 triumph over Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the previous weekend. This victory followed draws against Loudoun United and Tampa Bay Rowdies in their opening matches, underscoring their early-season resilience.
Reflecting on the crucial win, Lambert emphasized its significance in boosting the team’s confidence moving forward. “It was definitely a game where we will learn a lot and get some confidence from going forward,” Lambert remarked. “And I think Monterey was on the same amount of points as us before this game, so it was good for us to beat them and move on with three more points tonight, so I think this game was crucial to get a win.”
San Antonio FC currently occupies the third spot in the standings with eight points, while Monterey Bay sits in sixth place with five points, having suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Early breakthrough for San Antonio
The match started with an early breakthrough for San Antonio as Carter Manley found the net in the seventh minute, curling a loose ball past Monterey Bay’s goalkeeper Gerold Ngnepi.
However, Monterey Bay responded just before halftime, as Mobi Fehr capitalized on a free kick delivery to level the score in the third minute of stoppage time.
The stage was set for Lambert’s heroics in the closing minutes, as he pounced on Mitchell Taintor’s header from Jorge Hernandez’s free kick, securing San Antonio FC’s victory and extending their unbeaten run in the league.
