LA JOLLA — A glorious game-winning goal from Samy Kanaan pushed San Diego men's soccer (3-0-2, 0-0-0 WCC) to a 2-1 victory over crosstown opponent UC San Diego (0-3-1, 0-0-0 Big West) on Sunday night at Triton Soccer Stadium. Win the win, the Toreros remain undefeated in 2024 midway through non-conference play.
Kanaan's 78th-minute strike came at the perfect time for USD as it looked for a go-ahead goal after UCSD had found an equalizer in the 67th minute. The Torero's first goal of the night came in the 55th minute when Luca Fava found Jaxson Findlay for a tap-in to give USD the lead early in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- San Diego wasted little time to start Sunday evening's contest, as Cesar Bahena got the action started for the Toreros with a pair of shots inside the first five minutes, but he could not find the back of the net.
- Iain Wagner jumped a pass after a UCSD throw in the 16th minute and dumped it off to Kanaan in the eighteen-yard box to deliver another early chance for San Diego, but Kanaan could not convert, nearly missing off the post.
- After USD earned the first corner of the night in the 25th minute, UCSD immediately earned a corner of their own, but both defenses held firm, thwarting any threat of attack to keep the match scoreless midway through the first frame.
- With under a minute left in the half the Tritons earned a free kick in a dangerous spot, but Donovan Parisian was able to come off his line and bring the ball in to keep UCSD off the board, keeping the game scoreless heading into the half.
- Both teams traded chances to start the second half, before Fava sent a driven ball across the six yard box that found its way past the Triton goalkeeper and straight to Findlay for a tap-in, to break the deadlock and give the Toreros a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute.
- A volley from UCSD forward Andrew Valverde found the back of the net in the 67th minute to tie the game back up at one goal a piece midway through the second frame.
- After the Triton equalizer, USD maintained possession with some build-up play until the 78th minute when Kanaan took an inside touch towards goal just off the top of the box and fired off a magnificent curling shot towards the far post for a go-ahead goal to give the Toreros a 2-1 lead that it would not relinquish through the final 10 minutes of play.
TORERO TIDBITS
- Parisian got his second start of the season in goal for the Toreros, and allowed just one goal, earning two saves, including a highlight reel bicycle kick save.
- Kanaan's game winning goal in the 78th minute served as a bit of Deja Vu for UCSD, as he also scored the winner against the Tritons in 2023 at Torero Stadium in the 75th minute to give USD a 2-1 win.
- Findlay's 55th minute goal was his second goal in a Torero stadium, after scoring his first earlier this season against Lipscomb.
CATCHING UP WITH THE TOREROS
UP NEXT
- The Toreros will be back in action this Friday when they travel to Irvine to take on the UC Irvine Anteaters. Kickoff at Anteater Stadium is set for 6 p.m. PST.
