FRESNO, Ca. – Saint Louis FC fell 1-0 away to Fresno FC in front of 4,951 fans at Chukchansi Park in Match 25 of the USL Regular Season.
The home side opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a rocket shot from Zachary Ellis-Hayden that found the top corner and would hold on to see out their first win in four games to improve to 8-9-9 with 33 points while Saint Louis FC remains on 35 points with a 9-7-8 record in the USL Western Conference.
The first half saw Saint Louis FC control possession though Fresno FC nearly opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when Juan Pablo Caffa struck the crossbar from a free kick taken from about 35-yards out. The away side would respond with a good effort from Wal Fall that was well-saved by Fresno goalkeeper Kyle Reynish in the 29th minute. Fresno would then break the deadlock in the 33rd minute as the ball was laid off to Ellis-Hayden and he created some space to let loose from about 30-yards and the shot cannoned off the post in the top corner for his first goal of the season. STLFC had a good opportunity to equalize just before halftime in the 45th minute as Michael Cox hit a hard and low effort to the bottom corner but it was saved by Reynish to preserve the 1-0 lead going into the break.
The second half started with Saint Louis FC making a pair of substitutions as they looked to get back into the game. Fresno would have the first scoring chance, however, as Christian Chaney controlled the ball well in the box to get off a shot that was well-saved by STLFC goalkeeper Tomas Gomez in the 52nd minute. The away side responded with a counter attack as substitute Kyle Greig played in fellow-substitute Kadeem Dacres and the later saw his shot go narrowly wide in the 66th minute. Fresno would come close to doubling their lead in the 69th minute as Jemal Johnson found Chaney in the box but his sliding touch was stopped on the goal line by Gomez. Fresno goalkeeper Reynish would respond with a great save of his own as he punched away Fall’s free kick to preserve his clean sheet in the 70th minute and seal the win for the home side.
“Tough one to swallow tonight as I didn’t think there was much in the game apart from a fantastic strike by Ellis-Hayden,” said STLFC Head Coach Anthony Pulis. “I thought we had a lot of the ball and got into some decent positions but we lacked that cutting edge and bit of quality in the final-third to open them up. It’s been a tough week and the players have given everything they’ve got, now it’s time for some rest and recovery ahead of a huge period of games again.”
UPCOMING GAMES:
Saint Louis FC vs. Tulsa Roughnecks FC – Saturday, August 25th at 7:30 p.m. CT at Toyota Stadium
Fresno FC at Las Vegas Lights FC – Saturday, August 25th at 10:00 p.m. at Cashman Field
