NorCal Game of the Week June 2nd: SF City Top the SF Glens in the First PDL SF Derby

Photo Credit: @3pointsportsf

Supporter-owned San Francisco City FC picked up their first win of the year in the PDL and it could not have come at a better time. They topped new local rivals, the San Francisco Glens, by a score of 2-1 in the inaugural SF Derby. The Iron and Gold finally saw some of much needed luck go their way along with a hard fought team performance to earn the 3 points.

“We’ve been on a bad run so I didn’t want the guys to get more pressure than we already had,” said SF City Head Coach Paddy Coyne about the importance of their first victory. “We were already anxious because we are not getting the results.”

SF City was the first to get on the score sheet when a cross from left back Kamron Crow was deflected over the head of Glens Goalie Kevin Peach and into the back of the net to give the visitors the early 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.

“We are playing really good soccer and we just had no luck any of these games in the last 2 weeks,” said Coach Coyne. “Kam Crow has taken an early strike and it has deflected and gone into the net, and that is the first bit of luck we’ve had all year”.

Not long after that, Glens Captain Mihn Vu was fouled in the box leading to a penalty for the home side in the 20th minute of play. Tawwab Emiola stepped up for the Glens, but his penalty was saved by SF City Goal Keeper Remi Prier to keep his side ahead.

“I don’t think it was all luck today,” said Coach Coyne. “We passed the ball well all through the first half, and we are happy with the performance.”

City added a second goal late in the first half when a cross by Jake Skahan went through the box and found Ryder Bell who beat Glens Keeper Kevin Peach at his near post to double the visitors advantage in the 39th minute.

The Glens fought back in the second half. It was all one-way traffic for the home side as they looked to find a way back into the match. The Glens pulled one back in the 63rd minute when Roy Boateng rose for the header on a corner forcing SF City’s Remi Prier into a decent save. However, Emiola was quick to pounce on the loose ball, pulling a goal back for the hosts.

The SF City defense led by Robert Hines held firm after that, absorbing loads of second half pressure to secure SF City with their first League win of the season. “Rob, today, we give him Man of the Match,” said Coach Coyne about his vice captain. “He timed so many great tackles and played so well out of the back and dominated.”

Not only was this the first win in the League this season for SF City, it was also the first Derby victory for either side. “A win in a derby against a good team is momentum. It’s positive and it’s a step in the right direction,” commented Coyne after the match. “Now we just need to go back to the training ground and try and get a result again next week. We needed something like this to lift the spirits because we were a bit down.”

SF City will now return home for a 6 game stretch beginning with Ventura County this weekend, while the Glens will travel down to Southern California to face OCSC U23 this Friday.