San Diego FC's Complete Game
5-0 Domination of FC Dallas
San Diego FC delivered an exciting 5-0 victory against FC Dallas on Saturday. The offensive performance, spearheaded by Chucky Lozano and Anders Dreyer, was a key factor in San Diego finally achieving a complete game. The tactical changes implemented in the front line proved to be significant.
This week's starting XI featured a couple of adjustments: Alex Mighten started on the right wing, and Anders Dreyer moved into a central forward position. This was a clear attempt to jumpstart the offense. The expectation was that Dreyer, positioned centrally, would have increased opportunities to score from either side. Mighten's speed could stretch the defense in the final third, while Lozano's passing ability would provide scoring chances, setting up Dreyer in the center.
The impact of Alex Mighten on the right side was quickly apparent. In the 11th minute, Anibal Godoy, on the far side of the pitch, sent a cross-field pass to Mighten on the near side. This was a change from the previous week, where San Diego FC heavily relied on moving the ball to the left due to congestion in the midfield. Godoy delivered an excellent pass to Mighten, finding him at his feet. Mighten attempted to dribble past two defenders to cross into the penalty area but was pushed down. The cross narrowly missed Chucky Lozano. This early attacking sequence highlighted the significance of getting the ball to Mighten on the right. The second time Mighten received the ball, he drove into the penalty area and was fouled, earning San Diego FC a penalty kick. Lozano took the penalty and scored his fourth goal of the season.
Lozano's second goal showcased San Diego FC's beautiful build-up play from the back. The sequence began in the 25th minute with a throw-in from Willy Kumado to Chris McVey. McVey passed to Paddy McNair, who passed back to goalkeeper CJ dos Santos. Then, dos Santos passed to McVey on the near side. McVey passed to Godoy, who gave a quick touch to Jeppe Tverskov. Tverskov immediately sent a pass down the middle of the pitch to Anders Dreyer. Dreyer dribbled downfield with Mighten to his right. Mighten drew his defender wide to the near side, creating space. Dreyer passed to Lozano, who took a touch to draw the FC Dallas goalkeeper out, creating more room for his shot. Lozano finished with excellent poise, and Dreyer demonstrated the effectiveness of playing him in a more central role.
In the second half, San Diego FC maintained their offensive pressure. In the 55th minute, FC Dallas had a free kick. FC Dallas center-back Sebastien Ibeagha had the ball at midfield, and as soon as he passed to Lalas Abubakar to his right, San Diego FC's high press began. Lozano went straight for Abubakar, who passed to Shaq Moore. Moore was met by Lucas Bambino, which caused an off-balance pass downfield and possession given to San Diego FC. Paddy McNair passed downfield to Chucky, who passed to Valakari, who immediately passed it back to Lozano. As Lozano advanced towards the goal, the defender marking Dreyer was drawn to Chucky, leaving Dreyer open for a pass and a shot. Dreyer shot and scored his fourth goal of the season. Later, in the 72nd minute, Dallas attempted to advance into the penalty area, but Luciano Acosta lost possession to Luca Bambino. Paddy McNair gained control and passed to Luca De La Torre in the middle of the pitch. San Diego FC demonstrated great control of the midfield with a series of eight passes before getting the ball to Lozano on the near side. Lozano then passed centrally to Dreyer. Dreyer drew the attention of the backline, leaving Onni Valakari (who had come on for the injured Alex Mighten) wide open to his right. Valakari immediately shot and scored San Diego FC's fourth goal. These last three goals showcased the varied ways San Diego FC's attack can break down a defense.
In the 87th minute, with FC Dallas attempting to score, Chris McVey cleared the ball to the far side of the pitch. Dreyer gained control and passed to Milan Iloski in the center. Iloski, who had come on in the 81st minute for Chucky Lozano, dribbled for about fifteen yards before passing to Valakari. Valakari passed it slightly wide right, where only Iloski could reach it. Iloski then took his shot inside the penalty area and scored. The goal and finish were spectacular, and Iloski's celebration was equally memorable. Iloski immediately pointed to and kissed the team badge before celebrating with the fans in the stands. For the Escondido native, scoring for his hometown team was clearly a significant moment.
Fans witnessed San Diego FC at their best. Lozano scored two goals and had one assist, Dreyer had one goal and two assists, and Onni Valakari contributed a goal and an assist off the bench. The two designated players up front demonstrated exceptional skill and synergy. The defense showed significant improvement compared to their previous three matches. Their shape was much more compact, effectively disrupting Luciano Acosta's ability to find gaps and pass into the penalty area. CJ dos Santos recorded another clean sheet. This 5-0 victory represented San Diego FC's first complete game, leaving a very positive impression. Their next match is against St. Louis City.