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Matchday Report: Ibarra Strikes as SD Loyal Earns Victory vs. Roots SC

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 06/30/21, 12:39AM EDT

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Former U.S. international’s curling finish gives hosts 1-0 victory and fourth consecutive home win

SAN DIEGO – Former U.S. Men’s National Team player Miguel Ibarra scored after coming on as a second-half substitute to lift San Diego Loyal SC to a 1-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Tuesday night at Torero Stadium as the hosts won their fourth consecutive home game to start the campaign while also recording their first shutout of the season.

The hosts got out on the front foot early and created the first good chance inside the opening 10 minutes as a corner kick from the right found Tumi Moshobane at the back post for a header that Oakland goalkeeper Zeus de la Paz tipped around the post and behind. Moshobane set up another chance in the 13th minute as his first touch inside the left edge of the penalty created space as he cut to the byline, but his low cross was sent wide of the near post by Corey Hertzog.

De la Paz came up with an even bigger save midway through the half as after SD Loyal swung play from left to right across the top of the penalty area, Collin Martin delivered a cross from the top-right edge of the box to the left side where Hertzog volleyed on frame by was brilliantly denied by the Curacao international.

Chances were few for Oakland in the opening 45 minutes but the visitors almost grabbed the lead in second-half stoppage time as Jeremy Bokila intercepted a header by Moshobane intended to go back to goalkeeper Austin Guerrero. SD Loyal’s Guerrero – making his first start of the season – bailed out his teammate with a fine stop as he spread his body to smother Bokila’s close-range chance and send the game to the break scoreless.

San Diego almost grabbed the lead 10 minutes into the second half as De la Paz took his time on clearing a back pass from the top of his six-yard area that Hertzog hustled to challenge and blocked just wide of the left post. With 18 minutes to go, however, the hosts went ahead as Ibarra turned on a pass by Miguel Berry at the top of the penalty area and delivered a curling finish into the right corner of the net to break down Roots SC’s resistance and notch his first goal in SD Loyal colors.

Alejandro Guido almost added a second in short order for SD Loyal only to pull his shot from the right side of the penalty area wide of the left post, and until the closing stages Oakland was limited in what it offered in trying to get back into the game. A long-range shot by Max Ornstil went well wide of the left post with three minutes to go, but in stoppage time the visitors almost grabbed an equalizer as Emrah Klimenta fired a long-range shot toward the left corner of the net that Guerrero kept out with a fine diving save. That would be the last chance for Roots SC, though, as San Diego maintained its perfect home record.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Miguel Ibarra, San Diego Loyal SC – Ibarra produced the impact SD Loyal needed coming off the bench with a beautifully taken finish for the only goal of the game, and completed all nine passes he attempted.

Scoring Summary
SD
– Miguel Ibarra (Miguel Berry) 72’

Full Box Score

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