SAN DIEGO – The San Diego men's soccer program (0-0-1, 0-0-0 WCC) fought through a wild, back-and-forth affair to secure a 2-2 draw against No. 20 Duke (0-0-1, 0-0-0 ACC) on Thursday night at Torero Stadium.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- From the start of the game, both sides proved to be energetic and active on the offensive end.
- Jack Sandmeyer and Samy Kanaan tallied early chances, while Luis Ludosan made a couple of sharp saves in the opening 30 minutes.
- Ultimately, the Toreros would be rewarded with the game's opening goal in the 26th minute.
- After Kanaan repossessed the ball and fed Sandmeyer, the senior passed it to Oliver Rhoades, who carried the ball several yards before launching a ball from outside the box into the upper righthand corner of the goal to make it 1-0.
- Ludosan's final save of the opening half was an important one, as he used all of his 6'7" frame to tip the ball over the crossbar in the 30th minute.
- The Blue Devils came out of the gate in the second half with energy and quickly responded to the Torero advantage.
- A 48th minute cross was deflected out to Ulfur Bjornsson, who poked the ball out to Jose Ortega who snuck the ball off the left post and tied the game at 1-1.
- Bjornsson would put the Blue Devils in front just a few minutes later, on a shot from well outside the box.
- However, the tide began to turn back in the favor of the Toreros, who pushed for an equalizer.
- Kanaan would set up the eventual game-tying goal, as he was dragged down in the box in the 70th minute to secure a penalty kick.
- Simon Duus Muller would take the kick and made no mistake, tying the game at 2-2.
- Each side would get one more quality look apiece, as the Toreros nearly went ahead off a 78th minute corner kick, but Vicente Ayala's header was corralled by the Duke goalkeeper.
- The Blue Devils nearly capitalized on a set piece of their own, as a 90th minute free kick chance set up Colton Pleasants, whose shot was tipped over the crossbar by Ludosan to secure the draw.
Â
TORERO TIDBITS
Â
To stay up to date with Toreros men's soccer, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDmsoccer".