Hirving “Chucky” Lozano (right) is congratulated after scoring the winning goal against Nashville SC. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)
San Diego FC’s tendency for slow starts continued Friday, but the expansion side was still able to pick up a win – and shut out one of the best teams in MLS in the process.
After a scoreless first half that was a tightly contested, measured chess match, the club roared to life in the second half and defeated Nashville SC 2-0 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Stars Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Anders Dreyer delivered the goals. Lozano, who like Dreyer, was fresh off an appearance in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, scored during the eighth minute of the second half via a right-footed shot from the center of the goal that connected with the top right corner of the net.
It was his first goal since June 28.
Then, right at the very end of the match, with seconds remaining during 10 minutes of stoppage time, a left-footed shot by Dreyer hit the net’s lower left zone, sealing the win.
It was Dreyer’s 12th goal of the season and Lozano’s seventh. Dreyer also assisted on Lozano’s goal, his 16th assist of the season.
San Diego, which came into the match winless in its last three home games, delivered its first clean sheet since a 2-0 home win against Austin FC on May 31.
It was the first-ever clash between the two sides. Nashville, one of the best teams in MLS this season, came into the match in second place in the Eastern Conference, while San Diego
entered at the top of the Western table.
Following the victory, SDFC now sits at 14-7-4, with 46 points, compared to 42 for Vancouver, which faces Sporting KC Saturday. Nashville, meanwhile, slips to third in the Eastern standings with a 14-6-5 record and 47 points.
“At the end of the day … you have to cherish wins against good teams,” SDFC head coach Mikey Varas said in a postgame interview. “We’ll enjoy this one, because the boys played a heck of a game.”
San Diego came into the match shorthanded, with four players – forward Marcus Ingvartsen, right-back Willy Kumado, defender Christopher McVey and forward Anisse Saidi – all out due to lower-body injuries.
However, defensive midfielder Aníbal Godoy, who had missed the three previous matches due to injury, returned to the lineup and played about 35 minutes in the second half.
Three of San Diego’s starting XI played in Texas just 48 hours earlier. Lozano, Dreyer and Jeppe Tverskov all participated in the All-Star Game in Austin, logging at least 30 minutes of playing time each.
Nashville also sent three players to the All-Star Game and one of its players, Sam Surridge, scored for MLS during their 3-1 victory against over a team made up of Liga MX league all-stars.
Notes: Up next, SDFC begins participation in the Leagues Cup, an annual tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs. San Diego has three matches scheduled across seven days against Mexican teams: CF Pachuca on Tuesday; Tigres UANL on Aug. 1, and Mazatlán FC on Aug. 5. All the matches are scheduled for Snapdragon.