SAN JOSE, Calif. – It took a full 90 minutes plus a shootout to decide the victor, but The Town FC hit all their targets in the shootout to secure their second consecutive win, which came over 2023 MLS NEXT Pro champion Austin FC II. The match ended in a 4-2 finish following a scoreless regulation.
Playing in front of the home faithful for the first time ever at PayPal Park — and debuting their newly revealed black kits — The Town FC were given multiple chances to score in regulation, but couldn’t capitalize. Stout defense and missed offensive opportunities on both sides forced the shootout, The Town FC’s second in the last three games.
Regulation scoring chances for The Town FC included an opportunity for midfielder Cruz Medina from near the six-yard box and a second-half shot attempt from midfielder Eduardo Blancas Maravilla to no avail. The home club outshot Austin FC II 10-5 in regulation, but just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Two key saves from goalkeeper Mikolaj Bieganski in the shootout plus three in regulation were enough to earn the 22-year-old the Adidas Man of the Match recognition. Bieganski saved Austin FC II’s first and third shootout attempts which set up midfielder Michael Baldisimo for the game-clinching try, which he hit with ease to send the Bay Area fans home happy.
In order, Blancas, midfielder Will Richmond, Medina and Baldisimo put the ball past goalkeeper Marcus Alstrup in the shootout to give The Town FC the win.
“Being able to feel the fans, [when] someone does something special on the pitch, that gets the crowd going,” Medina said postgame. “It gives the team motivation, like a 12th player on the field. Just a really cool experience feeling that support and energy from the fans tonight.”
The Town FC have now tallied points in each of the last four games. The shootout victory adds two points to their standing, moving them up to sixth in the Western Conference with nine points total on a 2-1-2 record. As a date with fifth-place Tacoma Defiance is on the horizon, The Town FC will aim to build on their recent success to climb the ladder in the conference.
The Town FC won’t play at PayPal Park again until June 11 but will have three more home matches in between, all at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
The Town FC will hit the road once again and will face Tacoma Defiance at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington on Thursday, April 25. The match will kick off at 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
MEDIA ASSETS
Click here to download photos of the match
Click here to watch highlights of the match
MATCH INFORMATION
2024 MLS NEXT Pro Season
The Town FC 0[4] – 0[2] Austin FC II
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Scoring Summary:
Misconduct Summary:
TTFC – M. Baldisimo (Caution) 56’
TTFC – R. Ibarra (Caution) 65’
TTFC – C. Walls (Caution) 72’
The Town FC: M. Bieganski (GK), R. Ibarra (J. Donnery – 89’), C. Walls, S. Bilter, O. Verhoeven, B. Leroux, M. Baldisimo, C. Medina (C), W. Richmond, E. Blancas, A. Edwards (R. Lynch – 76’)
Substitutes not used: A. Cano, A Chow, E. Mendoza, J. Nicolson, J. Spivey, R. Tsunehara, J. Garcia
SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 1; FOULS: 14; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3
Austin FC II: M. Alstrup (GK), C. Toure, A. Gomez, S. Mazzaferro, R. Bonachera (A. De Anda – 84’), B. Byaruhanga, A. Ramirez (C), E. Torres, B. Farkarlun, S. Pineau (J. Santillan – 63’), M. Burton (B. Arellano – 84’)
Substitutes not used:S. Louis Jean, A. Cervantes, L. Spadafora
SHOTS: 5; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 10; CORNER KICKS: 6; SAVES: 1