SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC notched its first victory at Torero Stadium with a 2-1 win against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night as former Las Vegas player Irvin Parra scored the game-winning goal for the hosts.

Looking to rebound from its first loss of the season, San Diego struck inside the opening 10 minutes. A cross from the right by Jack Metcalf found Tumi Moshobane at the back post, and while his initial header was parried, the ball looped up and rebounded off the top of the crossbar and back into play, where Moshobane was waiting to put it home.

A 2019 League One All-League selection, Moshobane had another chance in the 19th minute as he followed up a pass of his that was intercepted, won the ball back and fired a low shot from the left side of the penalty area that was saved by Las Vegas goalkeeper Edward Delgado. Las Vegas’ first good chance then arrived a minute later as Seku Conneh found space in the left side of the penalty area and flashed a shot through the six-yard area that went wide of the right post.

Lights FC got back on level terms deep in first-half stoppage time, though, as the assistant referee called San Diego’s Sal Zizzo for a handball in the penalty area. Jose Carrera-Garcia stepped up to the spot, and while SD Loyal goalkeeper Jon Kempin saved both his initial shot and rebound effort, the second rebound saw Rawshawn Dally react first to finally put the ball in the net.

The team exchanged chances early in the second half as Ben Spencer had a shot saved for SD Loyal and Javan Torre for Lights FC, but in the 65th minute Parra came back to haunt his former club and give the hosts the lead again. A second-half substitute, Parra got on the end of a cross from the left by Moshobane with a diving header at the near post to put San Diego ahead.

Las Vegas pushed late to try and find another equalizer, but San Diego’s defense gave them little joy or clear chances at goal, and time eventually ran out on the visitors to give SD Loyal a big home victory.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Tumi Moshobane, San Diego Loyal SC – Moshobane had a goal and assist and was dynamic around the ball, recording three shots on target, winning 5 of 7 duels and 3 of 3 aerial duels.