SAN ANTONIO – Luis Solignac tied the Championship’s record for the fastest regular season goal in league history, but San Antonio FC had to hold off Rio Grande Valley FC to earn a 3-2 victory in a thrilling South Texas Derby on Saturday night at Toyota Field.

The hosts got out to a perfect start as Solignac seized on a loose backward pass by the Toros’ Timo Mehlich and slid a finish home after just nine seconds. Solignac’s goal tied the mark set by Tacoma Defiance forward Justin Dhillon on May 19, 2019 against Reno 1868 FC.

Solignac almost struck again in the third minute as a miscommunication by new Toros goalkeeper Kyle Ihn and defender Kyle Adams resulted in a poor attempted clearance 40 yards from goal. Solignac attempted to fire home on the volley with the net empty, but his shot bounced once in the penalty area and then hit the underside of the crossbar and the left post before spinning out, allowing the defense to recover. RGVFC defender Robert Castellanos then had to make a goal line clearance in the fourth minute after a corner from the right redirected on goal off a Toros defender.

The Toros would level in the 10th minute, however, as after turning over possession in midfield, the ball came to Ian Hoffman, who delivered a good through-ball for Kyle Edwards for a low shot past advancing SAFC goalkeeper Matt Cardone.

But San Antonio regained the lead seven minutes later as Hunter Gorskie produced an opportunistic finish for his first goal for the club. Jose Gallegos initially fired a free kick on target from the left side that was punched clear by Ihn, but a long-range effort by Connor Maloney from 20 yards came to Gorskie in the right side of the penalty area, allowing him to redirect home.

The hosts then added a third in the 22nd minute as Gallegos found Solignac at the top of the penalty area, and Solignac produced a brilliant back-heeled pass to Ignacio Bailone as he broke toward the top of the penalty area. Bailone fired home into the left corner of the net as SAFC took a two-goal advantage to the halftime break.

The Toros pulled within a goal just before the hour-mark, though, as Deshane Beckford clipped home a looping finish into the left corner of the net after a nice pass into the penalty area by Luka Prpa found his run. Beckford had another chance moments later as he moved into space on the left to receive a pass from Edwards but didn’t seriously test Cardone with a low shot.

RGVFC couldn’t come all the way back, however, as a late chance for Taiberson saw the Brazilian fired a left-footed shot from 25 yards just high and wide of the top-left corner, allowing San Antonio to hold onto all three points and run its winning streak to four consecutive games.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Luis Solignac, San Antonio FC – Solignac had an outstanding game beyond his record-tying goal, also notching a great assist and finishing the night with six shots.