SAN DIEGO – San Diego Loyal SC set a club record for goals in a game as it pulled away for a 5-1 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Wednesday night at Torero Stadium to as Miguel Ibarra had a goal and two assists and Tumi Moshobane struck twice in the second half to send the hosts to victory.

It took less than two minutes for San Diego to take the lead as Corey Hertzog tracked down a long pass upfield on the right by Grant Stoneman and cut back onto his left foot to create space for a back-post cross that found Ibarra for a volleyed finish as the former United States international arrived at the back post.

Las Vegas had a chance to hit back quickly five minutes later as Cal Jennings led a counterattack after helping turn possession over near the halfway line, but after he passed to Danny Musovski on his right, SD Loyal defender Josh Yaro came through with a well-timed block to thwart the danger.

Lights FC threatened again in the 16th minute after being awarded a free kick to the left of center as Roberto Molina curled a shot around the wall to the left corner, forcing a low save by SD Loyal goalkeeper Trey Muse, who then recovered quickly to keep out Jennings’ effort from a narrow angle on the rebound. The visitors also created a chance off another free kick in the 23rd minute as Tony Leone got onto a cross by Bryce Duke that was easily saved by Muse, while a good piece of interplay at the top of the penalty area a minute later set up a chance for Alvaro Quezada that was also stopped.

The visitors broke through four minutes before halftime, however, as Musovski sent a pass upfield into the left channel for Jennings to break onto, and Jennings cut back past the covering defender onto his right foot inside the penalty area before delivering a low finish into the left side of the net.

SD Loyal had a pair of chances to regain the lead just before the halftime break as first Hertzog was denied by Las Vegas’ Alex Rando on a shot from the right side of the penalty area before Jack Blake had his effort on the rebound turned wide of the right post. Blake continued to threaten as the second half began, first sending a finish just wide of the left post after an initial shot was blocked, and then moments later on a driven finish from 25 yards that was parried wide of the right post by Rando.

Hertzog went close again in the 64th minute with a curling shot to the right corner that was also saved by Rando, but as the game entered the final 20 minutes SD Loyal’s pressure finally told as Blake put home his fifth goal of the season. A quick upfield move finding Ibarra on the left set up the chance as he cut into the penalty area and drew the defense as it tried to cover before finding the English midfielder for a simple finish into the open right side of the net to put the hosts ahead.

A minute later Ibarra added another assist as he claimed possession after an interception by Yaro sent the ball toward the left side in midfield, allowing Ibarra to lead Moshobane forward as the South African took a great first touch to get around a defender and then fired low into the right corner of the net from the left side of the penalty area.

Moshobane added his second goal of the night with six minutes to go as SD Loyal worked a clever short-corner routine that the South African initiated, sending the ball to Charlie Adams before he found Hertzog in the right side of the penalty area. Having played the ball short, Moshobane broke toward the penalty area to receive a return pass by Hertzog and then launched a shot into the top-left corner of the net.

San Diego then wrapped up the game with a piece of club history as CJ Fodrey became the first USL Academy signing to score for the club with two minutes to go as he won a 50-50 challenge with a defender on a crossfield pass by Hertzog from the right before controlling and shooting low into the left corner of the net.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Miguel Ibarra, San Diego Loyal SC – Ibarra had a goal and two assists for the hosts and finished the night with three shots and six key passes while completing 27 of 34 passes overall and winning 7 of 11 duels.

Scoring Summary
SD – Miguel Ibarra (Corey Hertzog) 2’
LV – Cal Jennings (Danny Musovski) 41’
SD – Jack Blake (Miguel Ibarra) 71’
SD – Tumi Moshobane (Miguel Ibarra) 72’
SD – Tumi Moshobane (Corey Hertzog) 84’
SD – CJ Fodrey 88’

Full Box Score