2-2 Draw for Sacramento Gold FC and Sonoma County Sol

By Ruben Dominguez/Sacramento Gold FC

A last-minute goal by D.J. Villegas salvaged a 2-2 draw for Sacramento Gold FC against the
rival Sonoma County Sol Saturday at Capital Christian High School.

Villegas’ goal came off a free kick near midfield. The ball was lofted into the box, where a
header knocked into Villegas’ path. Villegas fired a shot that pinged off the left post and into the
net, tying the score in the final minute of regulation.

Sacramento had been trailing since the 62 nd minute, when Brian Sanchez fired a curling shot from
30 yards away into the right corner of the net to make it 2-1. The goal led to a series of close
chances for both teams and broke a scoreless streak that had nearly lasted 50 minutes.

The Sol opened the scoring just three minutes after kickoff when Cylus Sandoval got the ball off
a takeaway in the Gold defensive third. Sandoval got free in the right side of the box and fired a
shot across goal to make it a quick 1-0.

After a near miss by Mike Mazzoni, Sacramento leveled the score in the 13 th minute thanks to a
beautiful pass by Nico Gonzalez, who lofted the ball over several defenders, right to a running
Matt Wiesenfarth. The Gold forward made a move to the left and tucked the ball into the back of
the next to make the count 1-1, which would stay until Sanchez’s goal.

Sonoma had a shot to snatch victory in stoppage time, when Sandoval found himself with space
in the right side of the box. He fired off a quick shot, but Gold goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek was
there to make the save and preserve the draw.

The Gold will now hit the road for the first time in 2020, traveling to Oakland to face NPSL
newcomer Project 51O. The teams will take the field at Merritt College Soccer Stadium on
Sunday, March 15 with kickoff set for 3:00 pm.

Photo Credit: Ruben Dominguez/Sacramento Gold FC