The forward Ezequiel Ponce emerged as the hero for Houston, scoring twice to clinch a dramatic 4-3 win against San Diego FC on Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium. The match saw an electric atmosphere, especially when Milan Iloski opened the scoring for San Diego FC in the 24th minute. Houston responded with goals from Lawrence Ennali in the 36th minute, and Ponce, who netted from the penalty spot in the 41st minute and added another goal shortly after the break in the 54th minute.
San Diego’s offensive effort included Luca Bombino’s goal in the 53rd minute and Onni Valakari’s strike in the 66th minute, making for a tense finish as both teams fought for dominance. Despite the late surge from San Diego, Ponce’s formidable performance ensured that Houston secured all three points.
Ponce’s standout performance included not only his two goals but also three shots on target, demonstrating his influence on the match. On the other hand, Ennali proved vital for Houston, contributing with one goal as well.
San Diego FC’s coach, Michael Anthony Varas, opted for a 4-4-2 formation featuring Carlos dos Santos in goal, supported by a defensive line comprising Oscar Verhoeven, Paddy McNair, Christopher McVey, and Bombino. The midfield was manned by Jeppe Tverskov, Valakari, Anders Dreyer, and Aníbal Godoy, with Iloski and Alex Mighten spearheading the attack.
Conversely, Benjamin Olsen’s Houston side also adopted a 4-4-2 setup, with Jonathan Bond protecting the goal. The defense included Felipe Andrade, Ethan Bartlow, Pablo Ortiz, and Franco Escobar, while Artur de Lima, Amine Bassi, Ondrej Lingr, and Brooklyn Raines operated in midfield. Ponce and Ennali were at the front line.
The designated referee for this thrilling encounter was Timothy Ford.
Looking ahead, San Diego FC will head to Chicago Fire for their next match, while Houston will travel to face Real Salt Lake.
Substitutions for San Diego FC
55’ 2T – Alex Mighten replaced by Hirving Lozano; Paddy McNair substituted for Ian Pilcher.
89’ 2T – Aníbal Godoy made way for Tomás Ángel.
Yellow card for San Diego FC:
38’ 2T – Carlos dos Santos (Unsporting behavior).
Substitutions for Houston:
104’ 2T – Amine Bassi substituted by Griffin Dorsey.
62’ 2T – Lawrence Ennali replaced by Duane Holmes.
75’ 2T – Ondrej Lingr taken off for Erik Dueñas.
Yellow cards for Houston:
8’ 2T – Ondrej Lingr (Unsporting behavior); 12’ 2T – Brooklyn Raines (Unsporting behavior); 16’ 2T – Ethan Bartlow (Unsporting behavior); 45’ 2T – Amine Bassi (Unsporting behavior); 46’ 2T – Duane Holmes (Unsporting behavior); 58’ 2T – Erik Dueñas (Unsporting behavior).