Four days earlier, San Antonio FC embarked on a journey that this season had been a fruitless exercise.

The local United Soccer League club was winless in eight road games, mustering one tie and seven losses, and knew if it had any hopes of making a push for a playoff berth that it had to win away from San Antonio.

What a difference a few days make. A team that couldn’t win on the road found a way not to lose on the road.

Paced by a strong performance from goalkeeper Matthew Cardone, SAFC played Orange County SC to a scoreless draw late Saturday at Championship Soccer Stadium in Irvine, Calif.

SAFC (6-8-6, 24 points), which went 1-0-1 on a road trip that began with a 3-1 decision Wednesday vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, is in 11th place in the Western Conference, only two points out of eighth place and one of 10 playoff spots.

“I think the team is getting better week-in and week-out and we’re gathering some momentum,” SAFC coach Darren Powell said after his squad remained unbeaten in is last four games and improved to 3-1-3 in its last seven. “We're really pleased with everybody's intensity this week and we look forward to continuing that next week.”

SAFC has something to look forward to thanks to Cardone, a former standout at MacArthur and Trinity, who had four saves. He made a reaction stop of a point-blank shot by forward Michael Seaton in first-half stoppage time and slapped away a header from forward Darwin Jones in the 60th minute.

“I thought we had a good team performance, especially after playing on Wednesday and traveling again,” said Cardone, who teamed with defenders Joshua Yaro, Ebenezer Ackon, and Kai Greene for the squad’s sixth shutout. “We put in another shift and played well, and we came out with a hard-earned road point.”

SAFC was perhaps an inch and a quick whistle from claiming much more on Saturday.

Forward Frank Lopez appeared to tally a game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time but referee Lorant Varga blew the play dead before Lopez’s attempt and issued Orange County SC defender Leonardo a red card for tripping SAFC forward Billy Forbes and denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.

Lopez, who was acquired Monday on loan from LA Galaxy II and scored two goals in Wednesday’s win vs. El Paso, nearly scored in the first half, but his attempt hit off the right post.

tthomas@express-news.net

Twitter: @en_terrence