San Diego FC kept it clean in 2-0 shutout over Austin FC

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego FC avenges the club’s first-ever loss with a controlled 2-0 Snapdragon Stadium victory over Austin FC on their Saturday night Summer Kickoff. 

The second meeting of the two clubs with San Diego FC’s visit to Texas on matchday 5 saw them handed their first-ever loss in club history, as Austin FC took the 2-1 victory at Q2 Stadium on March 23. 

With many key San Diego FC first team players absent due to injuries and international duties in the first go around, San Diego had a close to fully fit and available squad for their reverse fixture against Austin. 

San Diego FC looked to get back to its winning ways. This past Wednesday’s road match against the Seattle Sounders ended in a 1-0 loss for San Diego, with their five-match unbeaten streak and May undefeated record coming to an end at Lumen Field. 

Coming into their match on Saturday, San Diego FC sat in second place in the Western Conference standings, with the club earning 27 points off their eight-win, five-loss and three-draw record. 

Austin FC came into Saturday night's fixture sitting right outside of the MLS Wild Card positions with a tenth-place standing in the Western Conference.

Austin’s overall record on the MLS campaign read five wins, six losses and five draws. They were coming off a home midweek MLS 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium. 

The chances started early for San Diego FC, with midfielder Anders Dreyer’s right-footed low near shot on frame pushing just wide left for a goal kick in the 5-minute. 

San Diego had another goal chance in the 29-minute with forward Chucky Lozano trying to go low and around the Austin FC wall, as the ball barely missed the right post going out for a goal kick.  

San Diego midfielder Alejandro Alvarado nearly had a moment of brilliance in the 38-minute, with his center of the penalty box bicycle kick attempt going just over the left side of the crossbar. 

Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver claimed the match’s first save in the 44-minute, keeping out San Diego FC midfielder Aníbal Godoy’s long-range attempt and pushing it out for a corner. 

A dominant first 45 minutes for San Diego FC remained scoreless as the two clubs were unable to find the net in the first period. 

San Diego FC led in most major offensive stats, taking the possession battle victory (63%-37%), finishing the half with more total shots (7-3) and with the only shot on target. 

After a calm first half for San Diego FC goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, he faced his first action of the match in the 47-minute, making his first save of the night, pushing a shot over the bar for an Austin FC corner. 

San Diego finally broke through in the 60-minute, starting with defender Paddy McNair finding Chucky Lozano making the darting run into the attacking third. 

Lozano brought down the defensive half over the top pass, as he pulled back his dribble and found midfielder Luca de la Torre making the trailing run into the penalty area.

De la Torre shifted the ball onto his right foot and smashed a shot into the right side of the net for the opening 1-0 goal.

Luca de la Torre netted his fourth goal of the MLS campaign, scoring in back-to-back home matches for San Diego. 

In the 64-minute, designated player and Mexican international Chucky Lozano went to the ground holding his left hamstring in discomfort. He would come off the pitch, being subbed out in the 65-minute. 

A moment of concern for the club and Mexican selection, as he was recently called up to the men's Mexican squad for the upcoming international break and matches. 

Lozano’s second time coming off with hamstring issues this season, the first coming on March 1 in a match against St. Louis City, where he missed the next three games. 

“I just feel for the guy because he's gaining such a rhythm right now, and hopefully it's not as big of a setback as last time,” San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas said on Chucky Lozano’s injury.

Subbed on in the 81-minute, San Diego forward Marcus Ingvartsen got a chance to put the match to bed with an unmarked header inside the goal area. Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver made the goal-saving play, keeping Austin’s goal deficit to one with added time still to play. 

A moment of rubbing off the rust for Marcus Ingvartsen, as Saturday’s match marked only his fifth appearance of the year, having dealt with an injury that kept him out since San Diego’s March 15 match against the Columbus Crew. 

“I’ve been working a lot, both physically and mentally, and been hungry to come back,” Marcus Ingvartsen said on his return from injury. “There's a little rustiness that needs to come out, but I'm glad to be out there. It was a great feeling.”

San Diego would get another chance to close the game out in the 92-minute with forward Milan Iloski taking full advantage. Dreyer found Iloski unmarked near the goal area as Iloski tucked a low shot into the far post side netting to seal the game for the 2-0 victory.

Milan Iloski marked his third goal of the MLS season, with all three goals coming as a substitute.

“Of course, my city, I love it very much, so to be able to come back and contribute, it's what I was brought here to do, score goals and help the team,” Milan Iloski said on his goal in the 2-0 victory over Austin FC.

The full-time whistle blew with San Diego FC taking the 2-0 home victory over Austin FC, getting revenge after losing in the first matchup back on March 23. The club closed out the month of May, only tasting defeat once in seven matches. 

The 2-0 victory also meant another clean sheet for CJ dos Santos, bringing him up to seven on the year. 

San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas spoke after the Austin FC match on the club’s building and adaptation of the desired play styles as the season has progressed. 

“And I got this sensation the last few weeks that the style of play is like really becoming ingrained, not only inside their head, but in their heart and in their blood. And that's the really important step for this to become DNA.”

“I mean, we have a style of play, pillars. One is to be brave. I think the guys are very brave. You see, even winning the game one-zero, still playing with the goalkeeper relentless.”

San Diego finished the night remaining in second place in the Western Conference, pushing their league points tally to 30 points as they improve their season record to nine wins, five losses and three draws.

Next Saturday, San Diego FC hosts a giant in North American soccer, Club América, for a club friendly. The Mexico City-based club and seven-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners will face San Diego FC at Snapdragon Stadium at 7 p.m. on June 7. 

A day to remember for San Diego FC as they not only face off against the most successful club on the continent, but the match marks the first meeting against a club from Mexico.