Sept. 5, 2010
SAN DIEGO -
Senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) capped off a two goal, one assist performance with a game-winning penalty kick in the 84th minute to lift the San Diego State men's soccer team to a 3-2 victory over San Diego before 3,143 fans Sunday night at Torero Stadium. The Aztecs improved to 1-1-0 on the season and 11-5-2 all-time in the series, while the Toreros dropped to 1-1-0. The road team has won each of the past five meetings.
The game-winning goal came at the 83:03 mark after fellow senior captain Khadim Diouf (Dakar, Senegal) was taken down inside the penalty box by USD's Charles Blase. Reza then stepped up and finished into the back of the net for the second time on the night.
The game-winner came less than three minutes after Marcelo Carminatti tied it for San Diego on a header to the far post off a cross from Dan Delgado.
SDSU took a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute when Diouf finished nicely off assists from Reza and freshman Kody Duff (Roseville, Calif.). Duff, who entered the game four minutes prior to the goal, sent in a cross from the right side to Reza. Reza touched it to Diouf, who left-footed a shot to the far post to put San Diego State on the scoreboard.
The goal was one of three legit scoring chances in the first half for the Aztecs. At the 12:02 mark, Diouf ripped a right-footed shot off the right side of the crossbar from 25 yards out. A little over three minutes later, redshirt junior Justin Davies (San Diego/Brooks School (Mass.)) had his 27-yard attempt hit the left side of the crossbar.
The Toreros outshot SDSU, 7-3, in the first half, but only one attempt - a Carminatti header in the 11th minute that went over the net - was dangerous.
San Diego State didn't waste any time in the second half as Reza took advantage of a misclear by USD goalkeeper Michael D'Arrigo. Redshirt freshman Jordan Ongaro (Edmonton, Alberta) had the first crack at the ball but just barely got a foot on it. Reza then fired a shot from almost 50 yards that beat the backpedaling D'Arrigo.
San Diego finally got on the board at the 64:58 mark when Stephen Posa redirected a header into the right side of the net off a cross from Delgado.
Reza tried to give the visitors a commanding 3-1 lead in the 66th minute but his attempt from 24 yards hit off the left post before a Torero defender cleared it out of the box.
The score remained the same until Carminatti's header in the 81st minute set up Reza's heroics.
USD outshot the Aztecs, 15-6, but each team had three shots on goal. SDSU's other three shots - two crossbars and one post - all were on frame.
San Diego State, which started six freshmen in the second half, was led by Reza's three shots. Diouf added two and Davies chipped in with one attempt. San Diego's Patrick Wallen led all players with five shots (one on net).
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brad Byrns (Alamo, Calif.) made one save for the Aztecs, while D'Arrigo allowed three goals without making a stop.
SDSU begins its home portion of the schedule Friday when it plays host to The Courtyard Marriott San Diego Central Tournament. San Diego State is scheduled to meet Air Force at 4 p.m. PT Friday and Oakland at 4 p.m. PT Sunday.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Senior captain Raymundo Reza (Denver, Colo.) earned Man of the Match honors after playing a part in all three Aztec goals. A forward, Reza scored the final two goals, including the game-winner in the 84th minute, and assisted on the first in the 3-2 win at USD. Reza led SDSU with three shots.