SAN ANTONIO – Cristian Parano scored a pair of second-half goals as San Antonio FC pulled away for a 3-1 victory against Indy Eleven at Toyota Field on Friday night to move level on points with Orange County SC at the top of the Western Conference.
Indy almost broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when a corner from the left was flicked on target at the near post by Nabi Kibunguchy, forcing a reflex save by SAFC’s Joey Batrouni before Josh O’Brien’s header off the rebound clipped the crossbar and was cleared. The hosts took the lead three minutes later, however, as a cross from the right into the box came to Christian Sorto, who slipped a pass for Emil Cuello to his left for a shot that took a deflection off a defender on its way to finding the net.
Parano threatened again for the hosts just past the half-hour mark after a weaving run and shot was denied by Indy’s Eric Dick, and the veteran goalkeeper was called on again to keep out a low shot by Jorge Hernández that was headed to the bottom-right corner. But Parano doubled SAFC’s lead three minutes into the second half when his first-time shot off a cutback cross from Mikey Maldonado on the left clipped a defender and snuck past Dick for the Argentine’s third goal of the campaign.
Indy tried to find a way back into the game just before the hour-mark when Jack Blake’s long-range effort was kept out by Batrouni, but Parano added his second of the night with a volleyed finish after a neat piece of interplay with Hernández that set up the opportunity. O’Brien pulled a goal back late in stoppage time for Indy, slipping in past the SAFC back line to convert from close range after Anthony Herbert’s initial effort had been blocked, but it proved the last real action before the final whistle as San Antonio took a comfortable win.
Takeaways
San Antonio FC – The hosts put together one of their most comprehensive performances of the season as the flair of Cristian Parano and Jorge Hernández was on display to impressive effect. Parano doubled his goal total for the season with his two-goal performance, while Hernández notched his league-leading seventh assist to continue his excellent campaign as SAFC dominated possession and the flow of play.
Indy Eleven – The Boys in Blue’s struggles away from home continued, with the side remaining winless on the road this season. Indy suffered its fourth consecutive defeat overall in league play, putting it in danger of dropping below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, and while Josh O’Brien’s late goal brought the side’s scoreless streak to an end at 360 minutes, the visitors headed home emptyhanded.