Oxnard Guerreros FC Falls to City of Angels FC 2-0
Saturday night saw an Oxnard performance that not many have come to expect and that is one without goals. City of Angels FC came to town and weren’t going to let the Guerreros unbeaten streak continue. The game would finish 2-0 off the back of two world-class strikes from Quentin Anson and Rodrigo Britto de Toledo.
It was an important game for the Guerreros as it was the beginning of their four-game homestand, and these games would be important in the table at the end of the season.
The Guerreros came out with a new lineup against City of Angels that saw Luis Rivera rejoin the club after missing the first few games of the season. He has been a key contributor in years past and was looking to bring an immediate impact and get the Guerreros their second win of the year.
His combination play proved to be dangerous early as the Guerreros were able to combine in the midfield, but the City of Angels backline led by former Guerrero Tomas Araujo stood strong and were able to fend off any attacks that the Guerreros threw at them.
Toledo early decided to take matters into his own hands in the 36th minute. He dribbled across the top of the box and as soon as he saw an inch of space to shoot, he rifled it into the top corner and gave goalkeeper Angel Cervantes no chance at a save.
The former Brazilian and Swedish professional player wasn’t looking to stop there though as he continued to pressure the backline of the Guerreros, but the team from Oxnard had other ideas as they were able to keep him at bay for the remainder of the first half as the score would remain 1-0 going into halftime.
The Guerreros would start the second half a little quicker as they were looking to get a result in this crucial matchup. Long balls were put in dangerous areas, but City of Angels were able to deal with them and keep the score in their favor.
As the half went on City of Angels began to back off and invite the Guerreros to come at them. Cross after cross was cleared out by City of Angels, but the Guerreros looked to be getting closer and closer to getting the equalizer.
That would come to an end in the 86th minute when Anson would lace a ball from 30 yards out and find the top corner. It was a goal that left the crowd speechless and put a Guerreros team that had put so much effort into getting a goal back now two behind with very little time remaining.
They pushed on in search of even just one, but it wasn’t going to be their day as the game would finish 2-0 and end the unbeaten streak at two games.
“Our mentality was not here today,” Oxnard assistant coach Salvador Orozco said. “We broke after the first goal. The other team seems to dictate where our mindset is at and that needs to change.”
The Guerreros will be back at home April 6th in search of that second win on the season as they welcome ASC San Diego to town for a game that could again serve great importance at the end of the season.
By Gabriel Naudin/Oxnard Guerreros FC
Photo Credit: Brandon Jones/Oxnard Guerreros FC
