2023 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Owner | Andrew Vassilanis | |||
Manager | Nate Miller | |||
USL Championship | Western Conference: 3rd League Standings: 6th | |||
USLC Playoffs | Western Conference Quarterfinals | |||
U.S. Open Cup | Third Round | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Ronaldo Damus (15) All: Ronaldo Damus (15) | |||
Highest home attendance | 5,671 (3 times) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 3,214 (August 9, against Loudoun United FC) | |||
Average home league attendance | 4,754 | |||
Biggest win | 5-0 (July 14, against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC) | |||
Biggest defeat | 0-2 (Twice, against Oakland Roots SC and Charleston Battery) | |||
The 2023 San Diego Loyal SC season was San Diego Loyal SC's fourth, and last, season of existence and their fourth season in the USL Championship (USLC), the second division in the American soccer system.
After the announcement of a new MLS expansion franchise, called San Diego FC, the club announced they would cease operations at the end of the season, citing stadium struggles. [1] With supporter groups running with the catchphrase, "Bury Us With The Cup", [2] [3] the Loyal would qualify for the USL Playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, and played in what would end up being their final match in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on October 22 at Torero Stadium, in a 4–3 loss in extra time to Phoenix Rising FC. [4]
During the offseason, the Loyal experienced a coaching change when coach Landon Donovan made the move to the front office. He was later replaced by Nate Miller. [5]
As a member of the USL Championship, the San Diego Loyal entered the U.S. Open Cup in the second round on April 5, matched up against third division club Albion San Diego, a member of the National Independent Soccer Association. [6] After winning 2–0 at home, [7] [8] the Loyal would be matched up against the Seattle Sounders FC, a member of Major League Soccer, the highest division in soccer. [9] [10] After forcing added extra time away in Washington with a stoppage time goal by defender Kyle Adams, the Loyal would eventually lose 5-4 via a stoppage time penalty kick goal by Sounders' forward Fredy Montero. [11] [12] [13]
On August 24, 2023, owner Andrew Vassilanis released a statement that he would shut down the team, [14] and the USL announced that it would transfer the franchise rights of the Loyal due to an inability to find a "viable near- and long-term stadium solution", with the 2023 season set to be the club's last. [15] The team had searched for a venue to replace Torero Stadium but were unable to find suitable facilities in San Diego County; a plan to relocate to Santa Barbara was also considered, but negotiations failed to produce a solution. The announcement came three months after Major League Soccer's newest expansion franchise, San Diego FC, was announced. [16]
The Loyal qualified for the USLC Playoffs with a 16-9-9 record, securing home advantage for the first round of the playoffs on October 8. [17] Despite winning home advantage, they played their final match in the Western Conference Quarterfinals on October 22 at Torero Stadium in a 4–3 extra time loss to Phoenix Rising FC, [18] [19] who would eventually win the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. [20]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sacramento Republic FC | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 51 | 26 | +25 | 64 | Playoffs |
2 | Orange County SC | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 39 | +7 | 57 | |
3 | San Diego Loyal SC | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 61 | 43 | +18 | 57 | |
4 | San Antonio FC | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 63 | 38 | +25 | 56 | |
5 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 42 | +7 | 53 |
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 61 | 43 | +18 | 57 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 20 | +12 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 29 | 23 | +6 |
On January 9, 2023, the USL Championship staff released the schedule for all 24 teams. [22]
All times are in Pacific Time.
March 111 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–0 | Detroit City FC | San Diego, California |
8:00 PM | Conway ![]() Kasanzu ![]() Ackon ![]() | Report | Carroll ![]() Matthews ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
March 192 | San Diego Loyal SC | 3–0 | Phoenix Rising FC | San Diego, California |
3:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,114 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
March 253 | Sacramento Republic FC | 1-0 | San Diego Loyal | Sacramento, California |
7:00 PM | Fernandes ![]() Cicerone ![]() Lopez ![]() Donovan ![]() | Report | Martin ![]() Kasanze ![]() Bodily ![]() Collier ![]() Guido ![]() | Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 9,088 Referee: Malik Badawi |
April 14 | Phoenix Rising FC | 2–2 | San Diego Loyal SC | Phoenix, Arizona |
7:30 PM | Report | Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 10,437 Referee: Elton Garcia |
April 85 | San Diego Loyal | 2-1 | FC Tulsa | San Diego, California |
2:00 PM | Conway ![]() Fernandez ![]() | Report | Dyer ![]() Corrales ![]() da Costa ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,412 Referee: Corbyn May |
April 156 | New Mexico United | 1-1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
6:00 PM | Hamilton ![]() Moreno ![]() Swartz ![]() Rivas ![]() Yearwood ![]() | Report | Martin ![]() Conway ![]() Damus ![]() Stoneman ![]() | Stadium: Isotopes Park Attendance: 11,233 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
April 237 | San Diego Loyal | 1-0 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | San Diego, California |
3:00 PM | Perez ![]() | Report | Dennis ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,814 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
April 298 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–2 | El Paso Locomotive FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Corona ![]() Guido ![]() Perez ![]() Moshobane ![]() | Report | Calvillo ![]() Zacarías ![]() Clarhaut ![]() Pávkovics ![]() Kostyshyn ![]() Borelli ![]() Lyons ![]() Herrera ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,414 Referee: Katja Koroleva |
May 69 | Orange County SC | 1-2 | San Diego Loyal | Irvine, California |
7:00 PM | Villanueva ![]() Iloski ![]() Richards ![]() Partida ![]() Doghman ![]() McNulty ![]() Powers ![]() Casiple ![]() Osundina ![]() | Report | Moshobane ![]() Corona ![]() ![]() Moon ![]() ![]() Riley ![]() | Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,616 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
May 1310 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–3 | Rio Grande Valley FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Perez ![]() Adams ![]() Corona ![]() | Report | Ricketts ![]() Coronado ![]() François ![]() Ruiz ![]() Davila ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Brandon Stevis |
May 2011 | Miami FC | 2–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Miami, Florida |
4:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Riccardo Silva Stadium Attendance: 1,538 Referee: Melvin Rivas |
May 2712 | Oakland Roots SC | 2–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Hayward, California |
7:00 PM | Rodriguez ![]() ![]() Hackshaw ![]() Klimenta ![]() Peláez ![]() | Report | Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 3,584 Referee: Calin Radosav |
June 313 | San Antonio FC | 3–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | San Antonio, Texas |
7:00 PM | Oluwaseyi ![]() ![]() ![]() Zouhir ![]() ![]() Taintor ![]() ![]() Abu ![]() Hayes ![]() | Report | Moon ![]() ![]() Stoneman ![]() Damus ![]() ![]() Conway ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 7,043 Referee: Thomas Snyder |
Note: 225th USL league match |
June 914 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1-1 | Sacramento Republic FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Damus ![]() Guido ![]() Adams ![]() | Report | Viader ![]() López ![]() Donovan ![]() Keko ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,082 Referee: Corbyn May |
June 1415 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2–2 | San Antonio FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Guido ![]() Miller ![]() Riley ![]() Pérez ![]() Moshobane ![]() | Report | Taintor ![]() Adeniran ![]() Manley ![]() Batista ![]() Marcina ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,217 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
June 2416 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | 2–1 | San Diego Loyal SC | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
4:00 PM | Showunmi ![]() Griffin ![]() Osumanu ![]() | Report | Riley ![]() Perez ![]() Martin ![]() Adams ![]() | Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 6,107 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
July 117 | Indy Eleven | 2–2 | San Diego Loyal SC | Indianapolis, Indiana |
3:55 PM | Dambrot ![]() King ![]() Diz Pe ![]() Rissi ![]() Quinn ![]() ![]() Lindley ![]() | Report | Adams ![]() Perez ![]() Conway ![]() Damus ![]() Martin ![]() | Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Attendance: 9,082 Referee: Matthew Corrigan |
July 818 | Hartford Athletic | 0-2 | San Diego Loyal | Hartford, Connecticut |
4:00 PM |
| Report |
| Stadium: Trinity Health Stadium Attendance: 5500 Referee: Alexis Da Silva |
July 1419 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | 0-5 | San Diego Loyal | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
6:00 PM | Williams ![]() Beckford ![]() Mahoney ![]() Echevarria ![]() Wheeler ![]() | Report | Perez ![]() Bodily ![]() Stoneman ![]() Martin ![]() Conway ![]() Moshobane ![]() Riley ![]() Collier ![]() Corona ![]() | Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 8,023 Referee: Eric Tattersall |
July 3020 | San Diego Loyal | 2-0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | San Diego, California |
3:00 PM | Corona ![]() Riley ![]() Moshobane ![]() Guido ![]() Damus ![]() | Report | Musa ![]() Agren ![]() Echevarria ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,057 Referee: Elijio Arreguin |
August 521 | San Diego Loyal | 1-3 | Orange County SC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Conway ![]() Martin ![]() Stoneman ![]() Damus ![]() | Report | Casiple ![]() Scott ![]() Amang ![]() ![]() ![]() Iloski ![]() Shutler ![]() Osundina ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,217 Referee: Malik Badawi |
August 922 | San Diego Loyal | 2–1 | Loudoun United FC | San Diego, CA |
7:00 PM | Chilaka ![]() Stoneman ![]() Bodily ![]() Conway ![]() | Report | Landry ![]() Garay ![]() Turner ![]() ElMedkhar ![]() Fauroux ![]() Rocha ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 3,214 Referee: Brad Jensen |
Aug 1223 | San Diego Loyal SC | 0-1 | Memphis 901 FC | San Diego, CA |
6:00 PM | Corona ![]() Conway ![]() Martin ![]() Adams ![]() | Report | da Costa ![]() Molloy ![]() Smith ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,524 Referee: Sergii Demianchuk |
Aug 1924 | San Diego Loyal SC | 2-2 | Memphis 901 FC | San Diego, California |
6:30 PM | Perez ![]() Guido ![]() Moshobane ![]() Stoneman ![]() Kasanze ![]() | Report | Colonna ![]() Rivas ![]() Swartz ![]() Ryden ![]() Moreno ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,982 Referee: Abdou Ndiaye |
August 2625 | Rio Grande Valley FC | 2–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Edinburg, Texas |
5:00 PM | Nodarse ![]() Ricketts ![]() Pinzón ![]() | Report | Adams ![]() Damus ![]() Moshobane ![]() Guzmán ![]() Corona ![]() Conway ![]() | Stadium: H-E-B Park Attendance: 3,006 Referee: Natalie Simon |
September 326 | San Diego Loyal SC | 3–0 | Birmingham Legion | San Diego |
3:00 p.m. | Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 4,224 Referee: Joshua Encarnación |
September 927 | Charleston Battery | 2-0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
4:30 PM | Trager ![]() Ycaza ![]() Dodson ![]() | Report | Stoneman ![]() Damus ![]() Guzmán ![]() | Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 3,691 Referee: Gerald Flores |
September 1628 | Louisville City FC | 1-0 | San Diego Loyal SC | Louisville, Kentucky |
4:30 PM | Harris ![]() Charpie ![]() Gibson ![]() Serrano ![]() Perez ![]() | Report | Conway ![]() | Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 11,121 Referee: Nabil Bensalah |
September 2029 | Monterey Bay FC | 2–3 | San Diego Loyal SC | Seaside, California |
7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Cardinale Stadium Attendance: 3,427 Referee: Melvin Rivas |
September 3030 | San Diego Loyal SC | 1–1 | Las Vegas Lights FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Perez ![]() Guido ![]() Guzmán ![]() | Report | Rios ![]() Jiménez ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,107 Referee: Deshun Beard |
September 3031 | San Diego Loyal SC | 4–1 | Monterey Bay FC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Benjamin Meyer |
October 432 | El Paso Locomotive FC | 0–0 | San Diego Loyal SC | El Paso, Texas |
7:00 PM | Report | Stadium: Southwest University Park Attendance: 6,792 Referee: Gerald Flores |
October 733 | San Diego Loyal SC | 4–2 | Oakland Roots SC | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM | Corona ![]() Damus ![]() ![]() Adrien Perez ![]() ![]() Guido ![]() | Report | Tamacas ![]() Donasiyano ![]() Klimenta ![]() | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Matthew Thompson |
October 1434 | Las Vegas Lights FC | 0-2 | San Diego Loyal SC | Las Vegas, Nevada |
7:00 PM | Jiménez ![]() Mitrano ![]() Zali ![]() | Report | Riley ![]() Moshobane ![]() Perez ![]() | Stadium: Cashman Field Referee: Alex Billeter |
October 22, 2023Quarterfinals | San Diego Loyal SC | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | Phoenix Rising FC | San Diego, California |
7:30 pm PDT | Report | Stadium: Torero Stadium Attendance: 5,671 Referee: Elvis Osmanovic |
April 5Second Round | San Diego Loyal SC (USLC) ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | San Diego, California |
7:00 PM PDT | Report | Stadium: SDSU Sports Deck Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Ricardo Fierro |
April 26Third Round | Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) ![]() | 5–4 | ![]() | Tukwila, Washington |
7:00 PM PDT |
| Report | Stadium: Starfire Sports Attendance: 3,728 Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández |