Midfielder Mikey Maldonado controls the ball against a defender in SAFC’s 0-0 draw against Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas.
SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio FC faced the Tampa Bay Rowdies in a hard-fought 0-0 draw on Saturday at Toyota Field.
San Antonio FC controlled the game in every way but failed to put the ball in the Rowdies’ net. SAFC limited Tampa Bay to four shots, all off-target and attempted 21 shots themselves with five shots on target. The Black and Silver held 58% of possession in the match, frequently present in Tampa Bay’s half. The Rowdies and SAFC both committed 16 fouls in a tense and aggressive game for both clubs. Tampa Bay Rowdies maintain first place in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, while SAFC dropped to eighth place, the last place that allows the team to compete in the play-offs.
“I thought we dominated from start to finish in pretty much every facet of the game, and offense, defense, even every moment of the game, too.” captain defender Mitchell Taintor said.
Taintor completed 51 passes on target, with an 85% accuracy rate, which was the most recorded by any player in the match. Forward Lilian Ricol made his fifth appearance of the season since transferring in August, being substituted on in the 60th minute for forward Christian Sorto. Ricol had three shots, all on target. The final shot was a one-on-one with Rowdies goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who saved the shot with his finger tips.
“We’re going to get goals. So I think we’re good with how we are and honestly, the goal is going to come. As soon as that happens, it’s going to be an avalanche for us.” midfielder Mikey Maldonado affirmed.
The Black and Silver had a 31% shot accuracy as a team, with every shot on-target being saved by the Rowdies’ Waite. The San Antonio FC offense hasn’t scored at home since Aug. 12 against Miami FC, when they scored two goals.
“We dominate the game, we create chances, but we need to do better. I want to make the playoffs, but last year we set the bar at just making playoffs. This year, I want to make the playoffs, but I want to play at home,” coach Carlos Llamosa said. “There are 12 points on the table, and we need to go out there and get as many as we can to finish in the top four.”
The draw drops San Antonio FC to eighth place in the Western Conference of the USL Championship standings. The team currently has 38 points, which means they are nine points away from first place and one point away from missing the playoffs.
“We all talked about it,” Maldonado said. “It’s bound to fall for us, and it has to. With everything we’re creating, we’re going to get something. So I think with these last four games, we should be in store for some goals.”
San Antonio FC will face German 2. Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 in a friendly exhibition at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Toyota Field. They will go on to face Las Vegas Lights FC at 9:30 p.m. in Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada on Oct. 3.