At 17 years old, Henrik Sakshaug — making just his second appearance with San Antonio FC’s senior team — scored twice during a four-minute stretch in the second half to help the home side defeat Dallas-based D’Feeters Kicks SC by a score of 3-1.
Sakshaug, one of several teenagers from the San Antonio academy system getting the start for the USL Championship side, became the youngest player in San Antonio FC history to score two goals in a match.
With the win, San Antonio extends the club’s winning streak in opening round games to five, and improves to 6-0-0 all-time against amateur teams.
After a scoreless first half, San Antonio injected some urgency into the second, bringing on first team captain Connor Maloney coming out of the break. The midfielder made his presence felt almost immediately, creating multiple chances, including one to his right back Shannon Gomez, but Gomez was denied at point blank range by D’Feeters goalkeeper Anthony Rodriguez from about eight yards out.
The breakthrough finally came for the home side in the 53rd minute. Brazilian midfielder PC played a free kick into the box that D’Feeters failed to sufficiently clear. The ball fell kindly for Sakshaug on the edge of the penalty box and the youngster buried a clinical low driven shot that was mature beyond his current age. A minute later, Maloney added a goal of his own after getting on the end of another failed clearance by the D’Feeters defense. In the 57th minute, Gomez played a perfect square ball into the box and Sakshaug calmly finished for his second of the night.
D’Feeters quickly pulled one back in the 61st as Cardone failed to corral an early cross and Sebastian Mendez was inside the six-yard box to finish off the chance. Moments later Oscar Romero put a header just wide of the near post and the visitors continued to apply pressure right up until Juan Ramirez was sent off in the 83rd minute with his second yellow card of the night. Sakshaug almost completed the hat trick, but his late chance was denied by Rodriguez and he would have to settle for a mere brace in the breakout performance of his young career.
The home side controlled possession early in the first half but could only generate half chances, including a wasted corner kick in the opening two minutes. San Antonio kept up pressure and managed to test D’Feeters’ Rodriguez in the 15th minute. San Antonio whipped in a corner kick that the 20 year old Rodriguez failed to pluck out of the air, but San Antonio couldn’t capitalize on the loose ball in the box. The hosts continued to control possession and keep the ball in DKSC’s half, but no chances came.
D’Feeters abruptly breathed new life into the game with a low, driven early cross in the 29th minute that was smothered by San Antonio’s Matt Cardone before it could reach its target. Two minutes later, DKSC’s Miles Byass had the best chance of the half for the visitors, but his shot inside the box missed the far post by a matter of inches. Both teams continued to grow into the game and traded more chances, but neither could find a decisive goal and halftime arrived with the scoreline still stuck at 0-0.
San Antonio advances to the Third Round with an opponent to be determined on Friday, April 8 at Noon Eastern Time.
Just a few minutes later he followed that up with his second ✌️#Defend210 | #OurFuture https://t.co/NejHWSguNY pic.twitter.com/nDekAQaogG
— San Antonio FC (@SanAntonioFC) April 6, 2022
