AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC rallied from a first-half deficit to take a 2-1 victory against San Antonio FC on Sunday evening at Bold Stadium as the Texas rivals closed out the regular season.

San Antonio got out onto the front foot quickly and almost took the lead in the ninth minute as a free kick from the right by PC was sent long at an angle into the left side of the penalty area. Callum Montgomery headed back across goal and found Gonzalo Di Renzo for a close-range header, but Austin goalkeeper Diego Restrepo made a good reflex save to punch the ball away.

Bold FC twice then went close to breaking the deadlock, the first off a corner from the left that was controlled by Omar Ciss in the right channel and delivered back into the penalty area for a header by Fabien Garcia that went just wide of the left post. Billy Forbes also had a chance in the 23rd minute as the ball fell to him after a cross by Ish Jome was only half-cleared, but his finish went into the right side-netting.

SAFC grabbed the lead on the half-hour mark, however, as PC delivered a near-post corner kick from the right that was flicked into the net by the head of Jordan Perruzza for the young Canadian’s third goal in four games since joining San Antonio on loan from Toronto FC.

Austin hit back three minutes before halftime, however, as Jome controlled a cross from the right by Sean McFarlane in the left side of the penalty area. Jome found Amobi Okugo at the top of the penalty area, and he squeezed a pass in through traffic to Ema Twumasi, whose layoff set up perfectly for Forbes to send a low shot into the bottom-left corner.

San Antonio went close to regaining the lead eight minutes into the second half as Perruzza set up Ignacio Bailone for a shot at the top of the penalty area that went just wide of the left post, while Forbes fired high for Austin five minutes later as he got a half-chance on goal in the left side of the penalty area. Bold FC also went close with 14 minutes to go as a poor defensive clearance allowed Amobi Okugo to put a header on frame that was saved by SAFC goalkeeper Matt Cardone.

The hosts took the lead a minute later, however, as Twumasi battled through a challenge to regain possession after his attempt to find Jome in the left side of the penalty area was blocked and delivered a low finish to the right corner of the net. San Antonio almost had a chance to level immediately, but Bailone was unable to control his header from Connor Maloney’s cross from the left, sending it over the crossbar. The visitors were unable to find an opportunity to level as the game wound down, however, resulting in back-to-back defeats to close the regular season.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Ema Twumasi, Austin Bold FC – Twumasi notched a goal and assist, completed 26 of 31 passes overall and won 8 of 14 duels while completing 2 of 3 dribbles in a fine all-around display.