It took Ever Guzman’s historic night and surviving some late anxious moments, but San Antonio FC is right where it wants to be.

With one game left in the regular season, the local United Soccer League club is still in contention for a playoff berth. More importantly, it could control its own destiny.

Guzman scored three goals, and SAFC held on for a 4-3 win against Portland Timbers 2 on Friday before 1,305 at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.

It was the first hat trick in SAFC history and only the second in the Alamo City’s professional soccer annals. Pablo Campos accomplished the feat in 2012 while playing for the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions.

SAFC (12-13-8, 44 points) moved into ninth place in the USL Western Conference with the triumph. The top 10 teams advance to the postseason, and the local squad has plenty of teams on its heels. New Mexico United (42 points), Las Vegas Lights FC (41 points), Portland (38 points) and OKC Energy FC (38 points) are all within striking distance.

“This was an important win on the road that keeps us in the playoff race,” Guzman said. “We’re working hard, and we have one game left, so hopefully we can get the results we need and keep playing at a high level to go into the playoffs.”

Guzman did his part. His final goal of the night gave SAFC a 4-1 advantage in the 67th minute. He also found the back of the net in the sixth and 12 minutes as SAFC led 2-1 at halftime and by three goals with five minutes left to play.

Brian Gomez scored on a pass from Walter Restrepo in the 39th minute for SAFC’s other goal. Restrepo had two assists, and Cristian Parano and Jack Barmby had one apiece for SAFC, which concludes the regular season against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Oct. 19 at Toyota Field.

“I’m very happy (to score the first hat trick),” Guzman said. “It comes down to hard work by everybody, and I was lucky enough to finish the chances.”

SAFC needed each of Guzman’s goals. Portland made things interesting in the waning moments, scoring twice to close within a goal in second-half stoppage time. Giovanni Caixtro struck in the 86th minute to close Portland’s deficit to 4-2. Four minutes later, Ryan Sierakowski scored to make it 4-3.

“It was good to see our players respond after last week and come out here and give a good, gutsy performance,” SAFC coach Darren Powell said, referring to a 4-2 loss at Las Vegas. “It’s always good to win on the road.”

tthomas@express-news.net

Twitter: @en_terrence