San Diego Loyal SC
2020 season
Executive VPLandon Donovan
ManagerLandon Donovan
USL ChampionshipGroup B: 4th
Western Conf.: 10th
USLC PlayoffsDid not qualify
U.S. Open CupCancelled
Highest home attendance6,100
(March 7 vs. LV)
Average home league attendance6,100
Biggest winLA 0–3 SD (Sept. 9)
Biggest defeatSD 0–2 OC (Aug. 12)
PHX 2–0 SD (Aug. 15)
SD 1–3 RNO (Aug. 22)
2021 →

The 2020 San Diego Loyal SC season was the club's first season of existence and their first season in the USL Championship (USLC). This article covers the period from the founding of the club to the conclusion of the 2020 USLC Playoff Final, scheduled for November 12–16, 2020.[1]

Roster

As of March 6, 2020[2]
No. Position Player Nation
2 DF Morgan Hackworth  United States
3 MF Elijah Martin  United States
4 MF Jack Metcalf  England
5 DF Grant Stoneman  United States
6 MF Charlie Adams  England
7 MF Carlos Alvarez  United States
8 DF Sal Zizzo  United States
9 FW Qudus Lawal  Nigeria
11 FW Irvin Parra  United States
12 DF Eric Avila  United States
14 MF Yair Jaen  Panama
15 FW Tumi Moshobane  South Africa
16 MF Beverly Makangila  DR Congo
17 MF Collin Martin  United States
18 DF Edwin Lara  Mexico
19 MF Jerome Mbekeli  Cameroon
20 DF Joseph Greenspan  United States
21 FW Ashley Nazira  Mauritius
22 FW Francis Atuahene (on loan from FC Dallas)  Ghana
23 DF Emrah Klimenta  Montenegro
24 GK Jake Fenlason  United States
26 MF Suleiman Samura  Sierra Leone
28 GK Jon Kempin (on loan from Columbus Crew)  United States
40 MF Raúl Mendiola  Mexico
— GK Amal Knight  Jamaica

Competitions

Exhibitions

February 2 Preseason 1 San Diego Loyal SC 1–0 FC Dallas Chula Vista, California
12:00 PM PDT Atuahene Report
Report		 Stadium: Chula Vista Training Center
February 22 Preseason 2 San Diego Loyal SC United States 1–0 Panama Costa del Este FC San Diego, California
8:00 PM PST Metcalf 44'
Parra Red card 60'		 Report Stadium: Torero Stadium
February 29 Preseason 3 Reno 1868 FC 2–4 San Diego Loyal SC Reno, Nevada
12:00 PM PST Hertzog 44', 49' Report 7'
24'
30'
75'		 Stadium: Greater Nevada Field
March 28 Midseason 1 San Diego Loyal SC United States Cancelled Mexico Club Tijuana San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Stadium: Torero Stadium
Note: Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

USL Championship

Main article: 2020 USL Championship season
Round12345678910111213141516
StadiumHAAHHAHAHAAAAHAH
ResultDWWLWDLLL
Position5112122810
Updated to match(es) played on August 22, 2020. Source: Match reports
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Match results

On January 9, 2020, the USL announced the 2020 season schedule.[3]

March 7 1 San Diego Loyal SC 1–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PST Adams 15'
Stoneman Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Burgos 4'
Sandoval Yellow card 29'
Torre Yellow card 55'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 6,100
Referee: Elton Garcia
March 11 2 Tacoma Defiance 1–2 San Diego Loyal SC Tacoma, Washington
7:00 PM PDT Mueller Yellow card 38'
Dhillon 56'		 Report Atuahene 31', 85', Yellow card 89'
Stoneman Yellow card 57'
Kempin Yellow card 90+2'		 Stadium: Cheney Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Luis Guardia
Note: Played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
July 11 3 Real Monarchs 0–1 San Diego Loyal SC Sandy, Utah
1:00 PM PDT R. Sierakowski Yellow card 57' Report Stoneman 17'
Avila Yellow card 40'
Zizzo Yellow card 63'
C. Martin Yellow card 77'
Alvarez Yellow card 90+7'		 Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Brad Jensen
July 19 4 San Diego Loyal SC 0–1 LA Galaxy II San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT C. Martin Yellow card 22'
E. Martin Yellow card 66'
Makangila Yellow card 82'
Jaen Yellow card 87'		 Report Hernandez Yellow card 41'
Vázquez 72', Yellow card 90'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
July 25 5 San Diego Loyal SC 2–1 Las Vegas Lights FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Moshobane 9'
Adams Yellow card 54'
Parra 65'
Kempin Yellow card 81'		 Report Sandoval Yellow card 17'
Dally 45+6'
Fenwick Yellow card 84'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Joseph Salinas
July 29 6 LA Galaxy II P–P San Diego Loyal SC Carson, California
7:00 PM PDT Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Note: Match postponed due to multiple positive covid-19 tests in team organizations.[5]
August 1 7 San Diego Loyal SC 0–0 Sacramento Republic FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Spencer Yellow card 41'
Klimenta Yellow card 66'
Avila Yellow card 85'		 Report Wheeler-Omiunu Yellow card 55'
Hilliard-Arce Yellow card 71'
Skundrich Yellow card 88'
Iwasa Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
August 8 8 Las Vegas Lights FC P–P San Diego Loyal SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 0
Note: Match postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Las Vegas Lights organization.[6]
August 12 9 San Diego Loyal SC 0–2 Orange County SC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Alvarez Yellow card 28'
Klimenta Yellow card 56'
Moshobane Yellow card 76'		 Report Quinn Yellow card 53', 84'
Okoli 65'
Alvarado Yellow card 90+1'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Brandon Stevis
August 15 10 Phoenix Rising FC 2–0 San Diego Loyal SC Scottsdale, Arizona
6:30 PM PDT Flemmings 26'
King 59'		 Report C. Martin Yellow card 44'
Klimenta Yellow card 56'
Nazira Yellow card 82'		 Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Isaiah Vlad
August 22 11 San Diego Loyal SC 1–3 Reno 1868 FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Stoneman Yellow card 37'
Alvarez 66'		 Report Langsdorf 24'
Bone 62'
Apodaca 85'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
August 29 12 Orange County SC 0–0 San Diego Loyal SC Irvine, California
7:00 PM PDT Palmer Yellow card 58'
Crisostomo Yellow card 90+7'		 Report Stoneman Yellow card 22'
C. Martin Yellow card 42'
Adams Yellow card 45+6'		 Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Samantha Martinez
September 2 8 Las Vegas Lights FC 1–1 San Diego Loyal SC Las Vegas, Nevada
7:30 PM PDT Billingsley Yellow card 69'
Frischknecht 73'
Torre Yellow card 90+5'		 Report C. Martin Yellow card 53', 57'
Stoneman Yellow card 72'		 Stadium: Cashman Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Jonathan Bilinski
September 9 13 LA Galaxy II 0–3 San Diego Loyal SC Carson, California
7:00 PM PDT Alvarado Jr. Yellow card 48' Yellow-red card 65'
Cuevas Yellow card 63'
Vera Yellow card 69'		 Report Berry 1', 38'
Rubín 20'
Metcalf Yellow card 61'		 Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Michael Radchuk
Note: Re-schedule of postponed match from July 29.
September 13 14 San Diego Loyal SC 2–0 Orange County SC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Stoneman Yellow card 9'
Berry Yellow card 22'
Guido 41', 64'
Tarek Morad Yellow card 45+2'
Alvarez Yellow card 82'
Adams Yellow card 86'
Spencer Yellow card 90+5'		 Report Kiernan Yellow card 22'
Quinn Yellow card 72'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ricardo Fierro
September 19 15 Phoenix Rising FC 2–3 San Diego Loyal SC Scottsdale, Arizona
7:30 PM PDT Flemmings 41' 89'
Barmby Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Rubin 3', 12', 45+4'
Stoneman Yellow card 32' Yellow-red card 90+7'
Klimenta Yellow card 54'
Moshobane Yellow card 63'
Metcalf Yellow card 72'
C. Martin Yellow card 87'		 Stadium: Casino Arizona Field
Attendance: 0
Referee: Farhad Dadkho
September 23 6 LA Galaxy II 1–1 San Diego Loyal SC Carson, California
7:00 PM PDT Neal Yellow card 22'
Cuevas Yellow card 37'
Vázquez Yellow card 60'
Hernandez Yellow card 69'
Ontiveros Yellow card 72', Red card 90+8'
Alvarado Jr. 90+1'		 Report C. Martin Yellow card 27'
Klimenta Yellow card 38'
Rubín 42' (pen.)
Adams Yellow card 58'
E. Martin Yellow card 82' Yellow-red card 89'
Spencer Yellow card 90+5'		 Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: William Hoffman
Note: Re-schedule of postponed July 29th match.[7]
September 30 16 San Diego Loyal SC 0–3
(Forfeit)		 Phoenix Rising FC San Diego, California
7:00 PM PDT Berry 2'
Rubín 20', 45+7'
Stoneman Yellow card 31'
C. Martin Red card 45+8'		 Report Stanton Yellow card 27', 45'
Calistri Yellow card 28'
Moar Yellow card 45+5'
Farrell Yellow card 45+6'		 Stadium: Torero Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Joseph Salinas
Note: Match abandoned at start of second half due to Loyal walking off the pitch in protest of an alleged homophobic slur.[8] According to the FIFA disciplinary code, the match was forfeited and Phoenix was awarded a 3–0 victory.[9]

Standings — Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Phoenix Rising FC 16 11 2 3 46 17 +29 35 2.19 Advance to USL Championship Playoffs
2 LA Galaxy II 16 8 2 6 29 32 −3 26 1.63
3 Orange County SC 16 7 3 6 18 18 0 24 1.50
4 San Diego Loyal SC 16 6 5 5 17 18 −1 23 1.44
5 Las Vegas Lights FC 16 2 5 9 24 34 −10 11 0.69
Source: USL

Standings — Western Conference

Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Reno 1868 FC 16 11 2 3 43 21 +22 36 2.25 Conference Quarterfinals
2 Phoenix Rising FC 16 11 3 2 46 17 +29 35 2.19
3 San Antonio FC 16 10 3 3 30 14 +16 33 2.06
4 El Paso Locomotive FC 16 9 2 5 24 14 +10 32 2.00
5 Sacramento Republic 16 8 2 6 27 17 +10 30 1.88
6 New Mexico United 15 8 4 3 23 17 +6 27 1.80
7 FC Tulsa 15 6 2 7 21 16 +5 25 1.67
8 LA Galaxy II 16 8 6 2 29 32 −3 26 1.63
9 Orange County SC 16 7 6 3 18 18 0 24 1.50
10 San Diego Loyal SC 16 6 5 5 17 18 −1 23 1.44
11 Austin Bold FC 16 5 4 7 30 26 +4 22 1.38
12 Tacoma Defiance 16 4 10 2 25 32 −7 14 0.88
13 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 16 2 7 7 19 28 −9 13 0.81
14 Real Monarchs 16 3 11 2 14 25 −11 11 0.69
15 Las Vegas Lights FC 16 2 9 5 24 34 −10 11 0.69
16 Rio Grande Valley Toros 14 2 9 3 17 28 −11 9 0.64
17 OKC Energy FC 16 1 8 7 12 29 −17 10 0.63
18 Portland Timbers 2 16 3 13 0 20 50 −30 9 0.56
Source: USL Championship
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) points; 3) total wins; 4) total goal differential; 5) total goals scored; 6) disciplinary points; 7) coin toss or drawing of lots.

U.S. Open Cup

Main article: 2020 U.S. Open Cup

As a USL Championship club, San Diego was set to enter the competition in the Second Round, to be played April 7–9.[10] The second round draw had the Loyal slated to play an away match versus Los Angeles Force scheduled for April 7.[11] Before the match could occur, however, U.S. Soccer suspended the competition on March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[12] before cancelling the competition altogether on August 17.[13]

April 7 2nd round Los Angeles Force California Cancelled California San Diego Loyal SC Los Angeles, California
PDT Stadium: Jesse Owens Stadium (Cal State LA)
Note: Match postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[12]

References

  1. ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "2020 Roster". sdloyal.com. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "USL Championship Unveils 2020 Schedule". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Tacoma Defiance Statement on Governor Inslee Announcement" (Press release). March 11, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  5. ^ "LA Galaxy II match vs. San Diego Loyal SC postponed". LAGalaxy.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "San Diego Loyal SC Match Postponed due to COVID-19 Concerns". NBCSanDiego.com. August 8, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "LA Galaxy II Matches Against San Diego, Lights FC Rescheduled". USL Championship. August 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "USL Championship Statement – San Diego Loyal SC vs. Phoenix Rising FC". USLChampionship.com. September 30, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  9. ^ "FIFA Disciplinary Code" (PDF). FIFA.com. 2019. p. 20. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "Restructured Competition Format For 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Provides Opportunity For More "David vs. Goliath" Matchups In 107th Edition Of U.S. Soccer's National Championship". U.S. Soccer Federation. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  11. ^ "2020 U.S. Open Cup Second Round Pairings and Host Scenarios" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. January 29, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "U.S. Soccer Temporarily Suspends 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Due to COVID-19 Outbreak". ussoccer.com. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
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