1904 FC Closes Preseason with Road Win at CSU Fullerton
With just days away from the start of the NISA Spring 2020 season, 1904 FC hit the road for its final preseason match against CSU Fullerton’s men’s squad this Saturday, resulting in a 3-1 victory over the Titans.
The visit to Titan Stadium gave 1904 head coach Alex Gontran a final chance to apply tactics and test substitutions ahead of the club’s season debut at Stumptown Athletic on Feb. 29 and home opener on March 9 versus Cal United.
In a preseason first, 1904 was on the receiving end of a match’s opening goal. The home team put a ball past San Diego’s keeper for the partial one-nil.
Not to be left behind, 1904’s Billy Garton Jr. scored the equalizer after receiving a pass inside the box. After a quick control with his left, the striker hit the back of the net with his skilled right for the 1-1 before the end of the first half.
.@billygartonjr first half goal #defendsandiego pic.twitter.com/z0KEN1gRcF
— 1904 FC (@1904_FC) February 22, 2020
In the second half, 1904’s lead doubled after incoming player Joseph Perez put away an assist from Moe Espinoza. The assist came low to the ground, with Perez sliding to impact the ball with his cleats for the 2-1 tally.
Joseph Perez 2-1 Goal Highlight pic.twitter.com/Wt1OwPravf
— 1904 FC (@1904_FC) February 23, 2020
Espinoza would find himself involved with another goal soon after. The San Ysidro native capitalized on a one-on-one situation with a cheeky chip over CSU Fullerton’s keeper, this as a defender rushed toward the 1904 forward. The in-form Espinoza set the final 3-1 score.
3-1 @MoeEspinoza Goal Highlight pic.twitter.com/F1jmWrqbQF
— 1904 FC (@1904_FC) February 23, 2020
The result leaves the black and white with a perfect, six-out-of-six record in its preseason activities.
In a post-match interview shared through the team’s social media outlets, Garton saw the away fixture as the club’s biggest test of the preseason and shared the team feels stronger than ever.
“We’ve bonded really well as a team and we’re understanding the principles that Coach Alex, Johann, and the whole coaching staff are trying to implement,” Garton shared. “The cohesion is really good at the moment.”
Heading into the season opener in Charlotte, North Carolina, Coach Alex feels his squad is ready to get the result at home and on the road.
“We’ll have the same mentality that we’ve had this preseason at home or even if we play away. We want the possession, and we want to pressure. That’s it,” he stated.
