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Matchday Report: Austin Defeats San Antonio in Thompson’s Coaching Debut

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 09/07/21, 11:05PM EDT

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Goals by Fernandez, Garcia late in first half see Bold FC take 2-1 victory against SAFC on home turf

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC handed new Head Coach Ryan Thompson a victory to make his first official game in charge at the club with a 2-1 win against San Antonio FC on Tuesday night at Bold Stadium that saw the teams exchange three goals in the final five minutes of the first half with Austin’s Fabien Garcia providing the game-winner for the hosts.

Aiming to break a five-game winless streak, Bold FC opened brightly as in the fifth minute a near-post flick was blocked but came to Gustavo Rissi, whose header from 10 yards was parried way by San Antonio goalkeeper Matt Cardone. The hosts threatened again four minutes later as Collin Fernandez fired a low shot from the top of the penalty area that was also saved, while soon after San Antonio carved out its first good look on goal as Jose Gallegos was the beneficiary of a turnover in the attacking half as he fired a shot from 20 yards that was parried up by Austin goalkeeper Elliot Panicco before he claimed at the second attempt.

Austin threatened again five minutes before halftime as Beto Avila stepped up quickly to block an attempted pass upfield by Mitchell Taintor before seeing a quick shot blocked and then covered by Cardone after a short goal kick inside the SAFC penalty area. A minute later, though, Fernandez put the hosts ahead as he found space in the right side of the penalty area and fired a shot to the left corner of the net.

San Antonio responded almost immediately as Gallegos slipped a pass to Nathan Fogaca breaking into the left side of the penalty area before the Brazilian centered to Justin Dhillon for a close-range finish inside the six-yard area. As the game looked likely to head to the break level, though, Bold FC regained the lead in the final minute of the half as Omar Gordon swung in a beautiful angled cross from the left to the top-right edge of the six-yard area where Garcia volleyed home.

Fogaca tried to add to his earlier assist six minutes into the second half as he fired a shot from the top-left edge of the penalty area just wide of the right post, while Gallegos fired a free kick on target in the 66th minute from 20 yards that was saved by Pannico. Austin remained positive as well and a minute later Fernandez delivered a back-post cross from the right channel that found Stefano Pinho for a close-range header that was saved by Cardone. The SAFC shot-stopper had to be sharp again with 15 minutes to go as a good challenge by Amobi Okugo to win possession in midfield sent Austin into attack where Avila played in Omar Ciss for a shot from the right side of the penalty area that Cardone parried away.

San Antonio pushed late to find an equalizer, and Cam Lindley had a shot from the edge of the penalty area deflect just over the top-left corner of the net in the 81st minute. Bold FC had a chance to add an insurance goal as well as a deft piece of skill on the right by Nathaniel Adamolekun on a backheeled pass between a pair of defenders to Jorge Troncoso set up a low cross for a shot by Josue Soto in space on the opposite side of the penalty area that was saved by Cardone.

The visitors threatened again with two minutes to go as Taintor headed down a cross into the penalty area for Justin Dhillon to strike on the half-volley that was saved by Panicco, but despite their late efforts Austin held on to move within a point of the playoff positions, adding another twist to the Mountain Division playoff race.

USLChampionship.com Man of the Match

Omar Gordon, Austin Bold FC – Gordon notched the assist on Fabien Garcia’s game-winning goal and had a solid two-way game overall, winning 12 of 22 duels and 4 of 5 aerial duels as well as making 12 recoveries defensively while completing 3 of 4 dribbles and notching three key passes.

Scoring Summary
ATX
– Collin Fernandez (Juan Pablo Torres) 41’
SA – Justin Dhillon (Fabien Garcia) 42’
ATX – Fabien Garcia (Omar Gordon) 45’

Full Box Score

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