RECAP: CD AGUILUCHOS USA 4, SACRAMENTO GOLD FC 1

Sacramento Gold dropped its fifth straight league game with a 4-1 loss to CD Aguiluchos USA Saturday at Capital Christian High School.

Simon Rawnsley scored twice for the visitors, while Ricardo Guerra and Ross Middlemiss also found the back of the net. Sacramento’s lone score came via an own goal by Selaab Ghafouri.

CDA got started early – jumping on top in the sixth minute. Moving past a pair of defenders down the right side of the box, Rawnsley freed up Guerra with a back heel. Guerra cut back inside and lofted a curling shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

They nearly doubled the lead just two minutes later. Middlemiss slipped by the defense on the right side and cut back in, going one-on-one with Sacramento goalkeeper John Connolly. Connolly was able to stand strong and parry Middlemiss’ shot out of danger.

The Aguiluchos attack kept going into the second half. In the 59th minute, Rawnsley broke away for the Gold defense, putting Connolly in another one-on-one. Like before, Connolly was up to the task, coming up with a great reaction save.

However, Rawnsley would get his revenge four minutes later. As Connolly was trying to play the ball out for a corner, Rawnsley stepped in front of the ball. Rawnsley took the interception and put it into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

The visitors would add another four minutes afterwards. Rawnsley grabbed a loose ball on the right sideline and lofted a cross to the center of the box. Middlemiss let it bounced off his chest, turned, and fired a shot into the net to put the Gold in a 3-0 deficit.

Aguiluchos nearly added a fourth in the 71st minute. Matheus Freire played a low cross directly in front of goal, where Rawnsley slid and directed it towards goal. However, Connolly went down to ground as well, knocking the ball away.

But, the visitors would not be denied. In the 75th minute, Middlemiss burst through the middle to lead a two-on-one with Rawnsley. With the extra man advantage, CDA were able to beat Connolly when Middlemiss passed it to Rawnsley for the tap-in and 4-0 lead.

The home squad would not be shut out, though the Gold’s goal did not go off one of its own players. Ghafouri reached to block a cross, but the ball ricocheted off his leg, past CDA goalkeeper Kevin Gonzalez, and into the net to make the final count 4-1.

Sacramento will now head on the road for its longest road trip on the NPSL regular season calendar. The Gold will fly to the Rose City to face the Portland Spartans on Saturday, June 18. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Delta Park.