Might a lower-division soccer club be San Francisco’s best sports team right now? With the NBA’s Warriors having missed out on the postseason as their dynasty fades, and baseball’s Giants currently a study in ineptitude, the city is not exactly a hotbed for big-league sporting success. Yet the San Francisco Glens traveled to face their crosstown rivals San Francisco City on Sunday with both teams in fine fettle, each entertaining hopes of making the playoffs in USL League Two, the fourth tier of American soccer.
It was SF City who emerged victorious, winning the derby 2-0 thanks to second-half penalties from Kai Oppenheim and Jordi Tortell. The result strengthens City’s position atop League Two’s NorCal Division, while the Glens remain third, one spot outside the playoff places.
It was a perfect early summer afternoon for soccer, the blue California sky interspersed with cirrus clouds, the eucalyptus trees swaying gently in the breeze. With Kezar Stadium– SF City’s usual home ground– unavailable, the match was held at Cox Stadium, on the campus of San Francisco State University in the city’s southwest corner. Normal venue or not, well over a thousand fans, including a smattering of Glens supporters, had taken their seats on the metal bleachers as the game kicked off, the City ultras setting off smoke bombs to bolster the derby day atmosphere.
That atmosphere got an even bigger boost five minutes in. City have made a habit of scoring early this season, and they looked set to grab a quick advantage again after Dane Pendleton was felled by Glens goalkeeper Lucas Jones inside the penalty area. Pendleton, wearing the captain’s armband, had scored a dramatic late winner to win last season’s derby, but could not inflict more damage on this occasion. His spot-kick was poor, scuffed towards the middle of the goal, allowing Jones to make a simple save and claim the ball.
After the early flurry of excitement, the first half began to ebb slightly as the defensively-minded Glens settled. The Glens, managed by Alberto Millán, had set up in a compact 4-4-2 formation, all eleven of their Guinness-sponsored shirts frequently camped in their own half. Berdi Merdanov, City’s head coach, sent his team out with wing-backs pushing high up the pitch, with Jason Buezo on the right side venturing forward to create overloads and crossing opportunities. Yet the hosts, who dominated possession and were the more adventurous going forward, were hampered by a lack of precision close to goal. Israel Cortez ballooned a shot onto the running track that surrounds the Cox Stadium field, while Issay Bravo drove a low attempt just wide following a fluid City attack.
While the Glens held firm in the first half, their center-backs struggled to get to grips with Kai Oppenheim, leading the line for City. Oppenheim– who was a ballboy at City games as a kid– was a nuisance for the visiting backline, using his physicality to hold off defenders and regularly drawing fouls. He also got the crowd stirring with an attempt at an audacious goal. Picking the ball up in midfield, Oppenheim spotted Jones off his line and tried lobbing him from fifty yards out, forcing the Glens stopper to scramble back and save.
The second half initially offered more of the same. The Glens occasionally threatened from set pieces– with Kian Jones, brother of goalkeeper Lucas, slinging long throws into the danger zone– but did not draw a save from City goalie Andrew Samuels until second-half stoppage time.
The home side continued to be undone by sloppiness in the final third. Pendleton, City’s leading scorer with four goals this campaign, was in the midst of an off day, touches and passes going astray. And after a corner led to a scramble in front of the Glens goal, Bravo again pushed his shot wide, putting his hands over his face in disappointment.
Still, City were on top, and they were handed a glorious opportunity to turn that into a lead with just over twenty minutes to go. Oppenheim was the architect, playing a diagonal pass to Pendleton as he burst into the penalty area. The City skipper was then brought down by Kian Jones, who in addition to conceding a penalty was dismissed with a rather harsh second yellow card. This time, Oppenheim stepped up to take, and though Lucas Jones guessed the right way he couldn’t keep the home striker’s spot-kick out. Smoke bombs were lit and cowbells rang in Cox Stadium’s south stand as City’s attacking intentions finally bore fruit.
Minutes later, the margin was doubled, and again the goal came from the spot. This time it was the product of some deft work from substitute Jordi Tortell. Tortell, who plays college soccer at San Jose State, dribbled past one Glens defender before being clipped by Florentino Júnior, a Portuguese midfielder who to that point had been a standout for the visitors. Tortell took the penalty himself and struck it with aplomb, high into the net to seal the points– and bragging rights– for City.
With the win, SF City are now six points clear at the top of the division table with eight matches still to play. While anything can still happen, they might be the City by the Bay’s best chance of witnessing a playoff team this season.
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