Martinez' 2 Goals, Assist Gives Knights a 3-0 Win vs. Palomar

Brandon Martinez assisted on the Knights first goal and then added two goals of his own to lead the Knights to a 3-0 home win over Palomar on Friday. It was City's first shutout of the season as they improved to 2-2-1 in the PCAC and 3-8-1 overall. 

The Knights, who have now gone 3-1-1 in their last five games after starting the season 0-7, have moved up to fourth place in the PCAC standings and are right on the heels of third place Southwestern and MiraCosta. First place Cuyamaca are 5-0, but the Knights still have one more game against them. 

San Diego City outshot Palomar, 7-2, in the first half, but could not find the back of the net and both teams went into halftime scoreless. It wasn't until the 52nd minute that City finally broke through as Martinez set up Mustafa Ndume for an easy goal, his first of the season. 

In the 77th minute, Cristian Penaloza caught Palomar's defense off guard with 30-yard lob pass to Martinez who was running in along the left side. He was one-on-one with the Comets' goalkeeper Wyatt Oldenburg and Martinez chipped it over him to put the Knights ahead, 2-0. 

Six minutes later, Javier Monarrez sent in a pass towards the middle of the box with Oldenburg getting a touch on the ball, but couldn't control it and Martinez was there to pounce on the loose ball and score his second of the game. 

Martinez now has 10 goals on the season, which is the 5th most in the state. He has been in great form of late by scoring nine goals in the last six games, which has helped turn the Knights' season around. 

The Knights are on the road next Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Imperial Valley at 3 p.m. They will be back home on Oct. 22 vs. Cuyamaca at 3:30 p.m.