Berkovitz Brace Powers Santa Clara Past San Diego State Broncos midfielder strikes twice in commanding 2-0 road victory
SAN DIEGO, CA – Niv Berkovitz delivered a masterclass performance with two clinical finishes, propelling Santa Clara to a commanding 2-0 triumph over San Diego State at the Sports Deck on Thursday evening.
The Israeli midfielder broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion during the 19th minute, rising majestically to convert a header following a corner kick sequence. Diego Diaz provided the crucial assist after San Diego State goalkeeper Eddy Vargas had initially denied Santa Clara's first attempt from the set piece. Berkovitz positioned himself perfectly in the box, directing his effort into the lower right corner to give the Broncos the advantage.
Santa Clara's tactical superiority became evident as the match progressed, with their midfield controlling possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The visitors registered four shots on target compared to San Diego State's limited attacking output, showcasing their clinical edge in the final third.
Jackson Ozburn stood tall between the posts for Santa Clara, producing several crucial interventions to preserve his clean sheet. The goalkeeper was particularly impressive during the 22nd minute, denying a promising San Diego State effort, and continued his heroics throughout the second half with saves in the 31st, 41st, and 50th minutes.
The Aztecs showed glimpses of attacking intent, with Dylan Presto testing Ozburn early in the fourth minute and Tristan Viviani forcing a blocked shot in the 23rd minute. However, their efforts lacked the precision needed to breach Santa Clara's well-organized defensive structure.
Santa Clara's tactical flexibility shone through their substitution patterns, with head coach making strategic changes at halftime. The introduction of fresh legs maintained their intensity levels while San Diego State struggled to match their opponent's pace and movement.
The decisive blow arrived in the 81st minute when Berkovitz struck again, this time with his right foot. The midfielder tucked away a low effort into the left corner, completing his brace without assistance and effectively sealing the victory for the Broncos.
San Diego State's frustration mounted in the closing stages, evidenced by Lleyton Imparato's yellow card for unsporting behavior in the 65th minute. The Aztecs managed to generate some late pressure through corner kicks, with Christian Engmann coming agonizingly close in the 85th minute when his header struck the crossbar.
The match statistics reflected Santa Clara's dominance, as they maintained better possession and created more clear-cut chances. Will Wiersdorf and Ethan Martinez provided excellent support in midfield, with Wiersdorf nearly adding a third goal in the 51st minute when his effort sailed just over the crossbar.
Defensive solidity proved equally crucial for the Broncos, with Alejandro Arenas marshaling the backline despite receiving a yellow card for his physical approach. The Spanish defender's leadership helped Santa Clara weather San Diego State's late surge.
The victory highlighted Santa Clara's balanced approach, combining attacking flair with defensive discipline. Their ability to capitalize on set-piece opportunities while maintaining tactical structure throughout demonstrated the quality that could serve them well in challenging road environments.
For San Diego State, the defeat emphasized areas requiring improvement, particularly in converting territorial possession into meaningful scoring chances. Despite generating several corner kicks and free-kick opportunities in dangerous areas, they struggled to truly test Ozburn beyond routine saves.
Key Players
- Niv Berkovitz (Santa Clara) - Scored both goals with a header and right-footed finish, showcasing clinical finishing ability
- Jackson Ozburn (Santa Clara) - Made four crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet, including several second-half stops
- Diego Diaz (Santa Clara) - Provided the assist for the opening goal and controlled the tempo from left-back position