The 2020 San Diego Loyal SC season was the club's first season of existence and their first season in the USL Championship (USLC). This article covers the period from the founding of the club to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[1]
| 2020 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive VP | Landon Donovan | ||
| Manager | Landon Donovan | ||
| USL Championship | Group B: 4th Western Conf.: 10th | ||
| USLC Playoffs | Did not qualify | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Cancelled | ||
| Highest home attendance | 6,100 (March 7 vs. LV) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 6,100 | ||
| Biggest win | LA 0–3 SD (Sept. 9) | ||
| Biggest defeat | SD 0–2 OC (Aug. 12) PHX 2–0 SD (Aug. 15) SD 1–3 RNO (Aug. 22) | ||
|
| |||
Roster
edit- As of March 6, 2020[2]
| No. | Position | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | DF | Morgan Hackworth |  United States
|
| 3 | MF | Elijah Martin | United States
|
| 4 | MF | Jack Metcalf |  England
|
| 5 | DF | Grant Stoneman | United States
|
| 6 | MF | Charlie Adams | England
|
| 7 | MF | Carlos Alvarez | United States
|
| 8 | DF | Sal Zizzo | United States
|
| 9 | FW | Qudus Lawal |  Nigeria
|
| 11 | FW | Irvin Parra | United States
|
| 12 | DF | Eric Avila | United States
|
| 14 | MF | Yair Jaen |  Panama
|
| 15 | FW | Tumi Moshobane |  South Africa
|
| 16 | MF | Beverly Makangila |  DR Congo
|
| 17 | MF | Collin Martin | United States
|
| 18 | DF | Edwin Lara |  Mexico
|
| 19 | MF | Jerome Mbekeli |  Cameroon
|
| 20 | DF | Joseph Greenspan | United States
|
| 21 | FW | Ashley Nazira |  Mauritius
|
| 22 | FW | Francis Atuahene (on loan from FC Dallas) |  Ghana
|
| 23 | DF | Emrah Klimenta |  Montenegro
|
| 24 | GK | Jake Fenlason | United States
|
| 26 | MF | Suleiman Samura |  Sierra Leone
|
| 28 | GK | Jon Kempin (on loan from Columbus Crew) | United States
|
| 40 | MF | Raúl Mendiola | Mexico
|
| — | GK | Amal Knight |  Jamaica
|
Competitions
editExhibitions
edit| February 2 Preseason 1 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–0 | FC Dallas | Chula Vista, California |
| 12:00 PM PDT | Atuahene  |
Report Report |
Stadium: Chula Vista Training Center |
| February 22 Preseason 2 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–0 | Costa del Este FC | San Diego, California |
| 8:00 PM PST | Metcalf 44' Parra  60' |
Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium |
| February 29 Preseason 3 | Reno 1868 FC | 2–4 | San Diego Loyal SC | Reno, Nevada |
| 12:00 PM PST | Hertzog 44', 49' |
Report | 7' 24' 30' 75' |
Stadium: Greater Nevada Field |
| March 28 Midseason 1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Cancelled | Club Tijuana | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Stadium: Torero Stadium | |||
| Note: Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
USL Championship
editUpdated to match(es) played on August 22, 2020. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Match results
editOn January 9, 2020, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule.[3]
| March 7 1 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PST | Adams 15' Stoneman  90+3' |
Report | Burgos 4' Sandoval 29' Torre 55' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 6,100 Referee: Elton Garcia |
| March 11 2 | Tacoma Defiance | 1–2 | San Diego Loyal SC | Tacoma, Washington |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Mueller 38' Dhillon 56' |
Report | Atuahene 31', 85', 89' Stoneman 57' Kempin 90+2' |
Stadium: Cheney Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Luis Guardia |
| Note: Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] | ||||
| July 11 3 | Real Monarchs | 0–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Sandy, Utah |
| 1:00 PM PDT | R. Sierakowski 57' |
Report | Stoneman 17' Avila 40' Zizzo 63' C. Martin 77' Alvarez 90+7' |
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Brad Jensen |
| July 19 4 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–1 | LA Galaxy II | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | C. Martin 22' E. Martin 66' Makangila 82' Jaen 87' |
Report | Hernandez 41' Vázquez 72', 90' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| July 25 5 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Moshobane 9' Adams 54' Parra 65' Kempin 81' |
Report | Sandoval 17' Dally 45+6' Fenwick 84' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| July 29 6 | LA Galaxy II | P–P | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to multiple positive covid-19 tests in team organizations.[5] | ||||
| August 1 7 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–0 | Sacramento Republic FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Spencer 41' Klimenta 66' Avila 85' |
Report | Wheeler-Omiunu 55' Hilliard-Arce 71' Skundrich 88' Iwasa 90+3' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Alejandro Mariscal |
| August 8 8 | Las Vegas Lights FC | P–P | San Diego Loyal SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 0 | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Las Vegas Lights organization.[6] | ||||
| August 12 9 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–2 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Alvarez 28' Klimenta 56' Moshobane 76' |
Report | Quinn 53', 84' Okoli 65' Alvarado 90+1' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
| August 15 10 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 6:30 PM PDT | Flemmings 26' King 59' |
Report | C. Martin 44' Klimenta 56'Nazira 82' |
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Isaiah Vlad |
| August 22 11 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–3 | Reno 1868 FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Stoneman 37' Alvarez 66' |
Report | Langsdorf 24' Bone 62' Apodaca 85' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| August 29 12 | Orange County SC | 0–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Irvine, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Palmer 58' Crisostomo 90+7' |
Report | Stoneman 22' C. Martin 42' Adams 45+6' |
Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Samantha Martinez |
| September 2 8 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 1–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Billingsley 69' Frischknecht 73' Torre 90+5' |
Report | C. Martin 53', 57' Stoneman 72' |
Stadium: Cashman Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Jonathan Bilinski |
| September 9 13 | LA Galaxy II | 0–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Alvarado Jr. 48'  65' Cuevas 63' Vera 69' |
Report | Berry 1', 38' Rubín 20' Metcalf 61' |
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Michael Radchuk |
| Note: Re-schedule of postponed match from July 29. | ||||
| September 13 14 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–0 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Stoneman 9' Berry 22' Guido 41', 64' Tarek Morad 45+2' Alvarez 82' Adams 86' Spencer 90+5' |
Report | Kiernan 22' Quinn 72' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
| September 19 15 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| 7:30 PM PDT | Flemmings 41' 89' Barmby 90+2' |
Report | Rubin 3', 12', 45+4' Stoneman 32' 90+7'Klimenta 54'Moshobane 63'Metcalf 72'C. Martin 87' |
Stadium: Casino Arizona Field Attendance: 0 Referee: Farhad Dadkho |
| September 23 6 | LA Galaxy II | 1–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Carson, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Neal 22' Cuevas 37' Vázquez 60' Hernandez 69' Ontiveros 72', 90+8' Alvarado Jr. 90+1' |
Report | C. Martin 27' Klimenta 38' Rubín 42' (pen.) Adams 58' E. Martin 82' 89' Spencer 90+5' |
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park Attendance: 0 Referee: William Hoffman |
| Note: Re-schedule of postponed July 29th match.[7] | ||||
| September 30 16 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0–3 (Forfeit) | Phoenix Rising FC | San Diego, California |
| 7:00 PM PDT | Berry 2' Rubín 20', 45+7' Stoneman 31' C. Martin 45+8' |
Report | Stanton 27', 45' Calistri 28' Moar 45+5' Farrell 45+6' |
Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Joseph Salinas |
| Note: Match abandoned at start of second half due to Loyal walking off the pitch in protest of an alleged homophobic slur.[8] According to the FIFA disciplinary code, the match was forfeited and Phoenix was awarded a 3–0 victory.[9] | ||||
Standings — Group B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix Rising FC | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 35 | 2.19 | Advance to USL Championship Playoffs |
| 2 | LA Galaxy II | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 26 | 1.63 | |
| 3 | Orange County SC | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1.50 | |
| 4 | San Diego Loyal SC | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 5 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 11 | 0.69 |
Source: USL
Standings — Western Conference
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno 1868 FC | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 36 | 2.25 | Conference Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Phoenix Rising FC | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 46 | 17 | +29 | 35 | 2.19 | |
| 3 | San Antonio FC | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 33 | 2.06 | |
| 4 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 32 | 2.00 | |
| 5 | Sacramento Republic | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 30 | 1.88 | |
| 6 | New Mexico United | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 17 | +6 | 27 | 1.80 | |
| 7 | FC Tulsa | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 25 | 1.67 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy II | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 29 | 32 | −3 | 26 | 1.63 | |
| 9 | Orange County SC | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 1.50 | |
| 10 | San Diego Loyal SC | 16 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 17 | 18 | −1 | 23 | 1.44 | |
| 11 | Austin Bold FC | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 22 | 1.38 | |
| 12 | Tacoma Defiance | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 14 | 0.88 | |
| 13 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 13 | 0.81 | |
| 14 | Real Monarchs | 16 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 14 | 25 | −11 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 16 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 34 | −10 | 11 | 0.69 | |
| 16 | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 14 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 9 | 0.64 | |
| 17 | OKC Energy FC | 16 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 29 | −17 | 10 | 0.63 | |
| 18 | Portland Timbers 2 | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 20 | 50 | −30 | 9 | 0.56 |
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.
U.S. Open Cup
editAs a USL Championship club, San Diego was set to enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[10] The second round draw had the Loyal slated to play an away match versus Los Angeles Force scheduled for April 7.[11] Before the match could occur, however, U.S. Soccer suspended the competition on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[12] before cancelling the competition altogether on August 17.[13]
| April 7 2nd round | Los Angeles Force  | Cancelled | San Diego Loyal SC | Los Angeles, California |
| PDT | Stadium: Jesse Owens Stadium (Cal State LA) | |||
| Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[12] | ||||
References
edit- ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Roster". sdloyal.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- ^ "Tacoma Defiance Statement on Governor Inslee Announcement" (Press release). March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ "LA Galaxy II match vs. San Diego Loyal SC postponed". LAGalaxy.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "San Diego Loyal SC Match Postponed due to COVID-19 Concerns". NBCSanDiego.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
- ^ "LA Galaxy II Matches Against San Diego, Lights FC Rescheduled". USL Championship. August 6, 2020.
- ^ "USL Championship Statement – San Diego Loyal SC vs. Phoenix Rising FC". USLChampionship.com. September 30, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "FIFA Disciplinary Code" (PDF). FIFA.com. 2019. p. 20. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Open Cup Second Round Pairings and Host Scenarios" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. January 29, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.