The first Friday night Major League Soccer match ever held at Snapdragon Stadium was an awfully good one.
San Diego FC, in first place in the Western Conference. Nashville, in second place in the Eastern Conference but with four more points than SDFC. The home team was missing several players due to injury, meaning they had to once again start the youngest defensive line in MLS history (Ian Pilcher, 22 … Manu Duah, 20 … Luca Bombino and Oscar Verhoeven, both 19).
Turns out the kids are pretty good, and with a stable of dangerous veteran attackers to lean on, this club has proven once again it is a legitimate title contender.
SDFC got a second half goal from Chucky Lozano to earn a 1-0 win, extending their lead over Vancouver to four points (the Whitecaps host Kansas City on Saturday night). With nine matches left, San Diego is steamrolling toward the playoffs. According to the website playoffstatus.com, SDFC has a better than 99% chance of earning a spot in the postseason as an expansion club.
After a scoreless first half, San Diego got on the board thanks to their All-Stars. Jeppe Tverskov sent a long pass to Anders Dreyer. The league assist leader deftly dropped a pass to Chucky Lozano, who rifled home a right-footer shot for the only goal of the match.
For a moment, it looked like SDFC would have a two-goal victory. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Paddy McNair blocked a shot, sending the ball deep into Nashville territory. Dreyer outraced the visitors and scored an empty-netter, but the referee ruled the game over after the block, waving off the goal.
San Diego takes a small break from MLS play to participate in Leagues Cup, a competition between Major League Soccer and Liga MX. SDFC hosts Pachuca on Tuesday night for an 8 p.m. kickoff at Snapdragon Stadium.