SAN ANTONIO – The USL Game of the Week on ESPNU visits Toyota Field on Friday night as San Antonio FC plays host to OKC Energy FC looking to close the gap at the top of the USL Western Conference standings ahead of its showdown with conference leader Real Monarchs SLC next Saturday night. The Video Assistant Referee system will be in use, and kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT.
Matchcenter: http://bit.ly/2vdaSyF | Tickets: http://bit.ly/2nEm3xS | Broadcast: ESPNU, SiriusXM FC (Ch. 85)
San Antonio FC news and notes
Current record: 10-1-5, 35pts
San Antonio earned a 1-1 draw against Sacramento Republic FC on July 1 at Papa Murphy’s Park in their last league outing as A.J. Ajeakwa scored for the visitors.
SAFC took a break from the USL regular season last Saturday when it played to a 1-1 draw with Liga MX side Santos Laguna before falling in a penalty shootout in front of 8,007 fans at Toyota Field.
Billy Forbes scored for the hosts against Santos as the club hosted its first international exhibition.
San Antonio enters the weekend eight points behind Real Monarchs SLC – which has the weekend off – going into Friday night’s contest.
OKC Energy FC news and notes
Current record: 5-8-3, 18pts
Energy FC fell 2-1 to in-state rivals Tulsa Roughnecks FC last Saturday night in the first Black Gold Derby of the 2017 season at Taft Stadium.
OKC took the lead late in the first half through Daniel Gonzalez, but a pair of goals by the Roughnecks after the break saw the visitors earn all three points.
Energy FC announced this week the addition on loan of 2013 USL Most Valuable Player Jose Angulo from Saint Louis FC for the remainder of the season. The club also announced Daniel Jackson would head to Saint Louis on a separate permanent deal.
Goalkeeper Carl Cochran Jr. had a memorable outing on Tuesday night as he recorded 13 saves in Energy FC’s 0-0 draw against Liga MX side C.F. Pachuca in an international exhibition at Taft Stadium.
Series Notes
Squads
San Antonio – GK: Matt Cardone, Diego Restrepo, Lee Johnston; D: Sebastien Ibeagha, Cyprian Hedrick, Ben Newnam, Stephen McCarthy, Greg Cochrane, Ryan Roushandel; M: Miguel Salazar, Pecka, Billy Forbes, Michael Reed, Victor Araujo, Rafael Castillo, Kris Tyrpak, Mark O’Ojong, Devin Vega, Maxi Rodriguez, Zach Herivaux; F: Aly Hassan, Cesar Elizondo, A.J. Ajeakwa, Shawn Chin
OKC – GK: Cody Laurendi, C.J. Cochran; D: Michael Harris, Richard Dixon, Mickey Daly, Coady Andrews, Sam Fink, Anthony Wallace, Kyle Hyland; M: Chad Bond, Juan Pablo Guzman, Alex Dixon, Miguel Gonzalez, Luis Martinez, Daniel Gonzalez, Jose Barril; F: Jose Angulo
Discipline
San Antonio – Accumulation warning: Ben Newnam
OKC – Accumulation warning: Juan Pablo Guzman
Officials
REF: CALEB MENDEZ
AR1: Diego Blas
AR2: Elton Garcia
4TH: Baltazar Peral Hana
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
San Antonio FC – @SanAntonioFC
OKC Energy FC – @EnergyFC
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