Juan Agudelo scores game-winning aim in USL Jägermeister Cup play
PHOENIX (April 26, 2025) – San Antonio FC opened its USL Jägermeister Cup slate with a 1-0 win at Phoenix Rising FC Saturday.
SAFC placed on a gritty defensive efficiency within the first half earlier than discovering its rhythm after halftime to push for the opening aim. The distinction maker got here within the 63rd minute as Juan Agudelo chested a ball down within the field and turned to fireplace it into the low nook for his first aim of the season.
The San Antonio protection held Phoenix with out a shot heading in the right direction for the period the match, recording its third clear sheet of the season.
SAFC will proceed its group-stage play on Wednesday, June 25 when it hosts Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
Scoring Abstract:
SA: Juan Agudelo (Assisted by Nicky Hernandez) 63’
Subsequent Up
San Antonio FC resumes league play subsequent Saturday, Could 3, touring to face Rhode Island FC. Kickoff is about for 3:00 p.m. CT, and the match can be broadcast on ESPN+. The tenth anniversary season is introduced by Toyota.
Postgame Notes:
SAFC sits at 1-0-0 within the Jägermeister Cup, at the moment in second place within the Group 2 standings.
San Antonio evens the all-time sequence with Phoenix at 7-7-3, avenging its first lack of the season earlier this month.
Ahead Juan Agudelo scored his first aim of the season, turning into San Antonio’s ninth totally different scorer.
Midfielder Nicky Hernandez supplied his first help of the season.
Goalkeeper Daniel Namani made his first skilled begin within the match, additionally recording his first clear sheet and the staff’s third this yr.
Defender Shannon Gomez made his first look this season, taking part in 77 minutes.
SAFC Beginning XI: Daniel Namani, Shannon Gomez (Nelson Flores Blanco 77’), Mitchell Taintor (Captain), Mohamed Omar, Juan Osorio, Nicky Hernandez, Luke Haakenson (Jorge Hernandez 76’), Lucio Berron, Dmitrii Erofeev (Alex Greive 84’), Diogo Pacheco (Andres Paredes 76’), Juan Agudelo
Substitutions Not Used: Alex Crognale, Richard Sanchez, Almir Soto
Disciplinary Abstract:
SA: Yellow Card (Mitchell Taintor) 16’
SA: Yellow Card (Juan Osorio) 77’
SA: Yellow Card (Dmitrii Erofeev) 84’
SA: Yellow Card (Alex Greive) 90+3’
Quotes:
Head Coach Carlos Llamosa
(On the win…)
“It feels good. Everybody’s completely happy, gamers and employees. Immediately has a particular taste, as nicely. A number of the guys that haven’t performed in the course of the season had the chance to play, and I’m actually completely happy and happy with the efficiency tonight.”
(On totally different guys getting minutes within the match…)
“That was the message because the starting. Some guys are going to play greater than others, however be certain that everybody is prepared after they get the decision, able to carry out, and I consider as we speak was superior, particularly for Danny [Namani] and Shannon [Gomez]. They bought their first minutes of the season tonight, they usually did very well.”
(On the staff defending as a bunch …)
“Immediately, we seemed nice as a bunch. We got here again to our ideas, and we defended in a block, after which after they performed the ball again, we defended from the block excessive in order that was efficiency by all people as a staff.”
Goalkeeper Daniel Namani
(On making his first skilled begin …)
“Simply overwhelmed with pleasure, and there’s quite a lot of emotion into it, quite a lot of onerous work in coaching, and I’m simply very lucky and blessed that the employees and coaches thought I used to be prepared for this match.”
(On the staff’s defensive play…)
“We had been very well organized within the again. All people had one another’s backs, so I’m simply actually there to assist information them and with them doing the gritty work and the soiled work, it makes my job loads simpler, so it’s an enormous shoutout to them. They did their job very well tonight.
Ahead Juan Agudelo
(On scoring the game-winning aim…)
“Onerous-fought recreation, and the vibes are excessive. I assumed we performed very nicely defensively, and it felt good to be the person who rewarded the staff for his or her effort. It was an ideal ball by Nicky and quite a lot of push and encouragement from teammates to shoot the ball, and it went in, 1-0 towards a tricky opponent away.”
